Addington

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 152, 23 March 1939, Page 14

Addington

By Telegrapn—Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, March 22. Because smaller yardings of fat stock were offered at the Addington stock sale today, au increase was shown in the prices for fat sheep, fat cattle and store sheep. About 18,000 animals were penned, this being slightly smaller than the number of last week. Fewer lambs were forward. For rape lambs there was a firm sale, but for ordinary and cull sorts the market was weaker. Good rape lambsmade 13/- to 1-1/10; medium, 9/5 to 10/7; culls. 3/- to 4/6. The ewe entry contained few attractive lines, most of the two-tooths being small, and most of the older sheep being failing mouthed. Values were erratic, and generally the market failed by a small amount to maintain the improved level of last week’s sale. A line of Romney-cross Chatham Island two-tooths sold at 34/-, bpt very few lines of local two-tooths reached 25/-. Best four-year sheep made to 11/6, and a good pen, five-year, also made the same figure. Older ewes failed to make prices paid for similar sheep at the more recent fairs. Fat lambs had almost as keen a sale as last week, the entry totalling about 1850 compared with 1500. The quality of the offering showed a considerable improvement with a better proportion of butchers’ sorts. Freezing works’ buyers paid more than schedule for many pens, and altogether the sale for this class was the best for some time. The schedule indicates 7d. for 361 b. and under. Lambs remained unchanged with more quality pens for butchers to choose from. The sale was not quite as firm as last week. The entry of fat sheep was the smallest for some time, comprising about 4000 head. Following the small entry of last week, there was another keen sale. Though some good lines were forward, a substantial proportion was on the light and unfinished side. The market opened at the full rates ruling last week and as the sale continued there was a firming. Good ewes were better than last week by 2/-, and wethers by 1/6. Medium wethers and ordinary class ewes showed very little, if any, improvement on the level of last week. Extra prime heavy wethers made to 26/10; prime heavy, 22/6 to 25/-; prime medium, 19/- to 22/-; light to 14/-; extra prime heavy ewes, to 24/1; prime heavy, 16/6 to 19/6; prime medium, 11/6 to 15/-; light, to 8/-. The fat cattle entry totalled 415, being 30 fewer than a week ago. Most of the entry was of ordinary quality. For a small proportion of good steers there was an advance of up to 15/- a head. Good cows and heifers firmed by about 10/- a head. There was little change in the price of ordinary cattle. Extra prime heavy steers made to £l5/17/6; prime heavy, £l3/10/to £l4/15/-; prime medium, £ll/15/- to £l3/10/-; light, to £9; extra prime heifers, to £l2/12/6; prime, £B/10/- to £9 15/-; medium, £6/10/- to £8; light, to £6/15/-; extra prime cows, to £9/12/6; prime, £7 to £B/15/-; medium, £5/5/to £6/10/-; light, to £5. The porker entry in the fat pig section was a good deal larger than last week. However, all best-quality pigs met with a good sale at slightly lower than last week’s level. Plain and unfinished sorts were easier by from 2/- to 3/- a head. Choppers were in medium supply and sold well at last week’s level. Baconers were forward in smaller numbers and the sale was excellent throughout, best-qquality pigs being from 2/- to 3/- a head firmer than a week ago. Choppers made 53/6 to £6/1/-; porkers, 29/6 to 56/6, an average price a Ib._ of 6Jd. to 7}d.; baconers, 57/6 to £5/1/6, an average price a lb. of 6d. to 6Jd.