DECLINE IN EWES.

Wairarapa Age, 17 March 1927, Page 7

DECLINE IN EWES.

GOOD LAMES SELL WELL. KEENNEK ■ ADES AT ADDINGTON CHRISTCHURCH, March 16. The entry was again heavy, nearly all the available accommodation being filled. The yarding included numerous drafts of lambs from Banks Peninsula. Good lambs sold as well as last week, but medium and inferior sorts were a shade weaker. At no time was there any keenness in the sale. Ewes generally went back by 1/- to 1/6 a head, while wethers sold at prices which were little different from last week. Best forward lambs to 19/-, fairly good rape lambs 15/- to 16/6, medium lambs 13/to 14/6, small and inferior lambs 11/to 12/9, cull lambs 8/- to 10/6, good three-quarterbred 'ewe lambs 20/-, best North Island two-toothed ewes to 31/6, good do. 26/- to 2,8/9, inferior 24/- to 25/6, four, six and eight-tooth crossbred ewes 18/9 to 23/-, four, six and eighttooth halfbred ewes 22/6 to 29/-, fail-ing-mouthed hqlfbred eWes 14/- to 18/6, four and six-toothed halfbred withers, 19/1. Fat Lambs.—There was again a small entry totalling '2350 head, compared with 2600 last week. Generally the quality was better than has been the case for some time. The demand was good, both butchers and freezing buyers operating actively. Although during the week, there was a drop in the schedule rates of id per lb, values today were about as good as last week. Extra prime lambs to 29/7, prime 24/6 to 26/6, medium 22/- to 24/-, light 19/6 to 21/6.

Fat Sheep.—Another small yarding was forward, eight and a half races being penned as against nine last week. Old ewes formed a good proportion of the yarding and the general quality w r as not very attractive. Very few prime wethers were penned. The demand was good, especially for prime sheep, which showed an improvement on late rates of 1/- to 1/6 per head. Freezing buyers bought a fair tion of ewes. Extra prime wethers 35/4, prinfe 27/- to 29/6, medium 24/9 to 26/6, Ijght 22/6 to 24/6, extra prime owes to 24/10, prime 19/- to 22/-, medium 15/- to .17/6, light 13/6 to 14/9, aged 10/6 to 13/-.

Fat Cattle.—The entry was the smallest seen at the yards for several weeks, totalling only 400 head as against 552 last week. Generally, the quality was poor. Only a few prime steers came forward. A good number of indifferent cows were penned. Good cattle sold better than last week throughout, but inferior stuff was no better and wahard of sale throughout. Prices per 1001 b were: Best beef 34/- to 37/6, medium to good 30/- to 33/-, medium cow beef 24/- to 26/6; rough down to 21/-. Prime medium-weight steers £l2 to £l4, medium quality £9 to £ll 10/-, light £6 to £8 10/-, extra prime heifers to £l4 2/6, prime ,£8 5/- to £9 15/-, medium £5 10/- to £7 If)/-, light £4 5/to £5 5/-, extra prime cows to £l2 17/6, prime cows £6 15/- to £8 15/-, ordinary £4 15/- to £6 5/, rough £3 15/- to £4 10/.

Vealcrs.— The yarding was very small and there was an improvement in prices. Runners to £6, good calves £5 to £5 15/-, medium calves £3 10/- to £4 17/6, small and inferior calves 10/- to 25/-. Store Cattle.—Principally cows were forward. Generally there was a good demand. Eighteen months old steers £5, fresh cows to £4 10/-, others £1 10/to £3, bulls £3 t 6 £B.

Dairy Cattle.—The entry comprised 65 head, mainly heifbrs which sold readily, being well conditioned and grown. Good seepnd, third and fourth oalvers £8 10/- to £ll 10/-, extra good to £l5, medium sorts £6 10/- to £B, ferior £4 to £5 15/-, best springing heifers £8 to £l4 10/-. medium and inferior £4 10/- to £7. 10/-e Fat Pigs.—The entry was small and values were equal to those of last week. Choppers £3 10/- to £7 6/-, light bacoaers £3 10/- to £3 15/-, heavy baconers £4 to 1 £4 5/-, extra heavy baconers to £4 12/- (average price per lb, 5Ad to 6jd); light porkers 46/- to 52/-, heavy porkers 55/- to* 66/- (average price per lb, 7d to 8d).

Store Pigs.—A medium entiw was forward. The sale opened on a par with late rates, but eased towards the end. ' Weaners, 10/- to 17/6, goo-1 weaners 18/- to 21/6, small stores 22/to 31/-, medium stores 32/- to 39/6, large stores to 47/-. —(P.A.)