STOCK MARKET

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 February 1939, Page 3

STOCK MARKET

ADDINGTON HEAVY YARDING OF STORE LAMBS. EXPORTERS OPERATE KEENLY. (By Telegraoh—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, February 8. Another heavy yarding of store lambs was submitted at the weekly stock market in Addington today, and values again were down. Fat lambs sold well at up to last week’s rates, but fat sheep, and fat cattle were easier. In the store sheep section the entry of store lambs of about 13,000 was the heaviest for the season. For the best lines there was little change in values from last week, but for ordinary rape lambs and culls there was a drop of fully Is a head. A feature of the yarding was the appearance of excellent Romneys from the Chatham Islands, and these met with a good sale, up to 18s being paid for the best of the draft. Best halfbred rape lambs made 13s to about 15s 6d, with average sorts making 9s 6d to 12s 6d. A line of good five-year halfbreds made to 12s 9d and another line 14s to 14s 3d. Two lots of good six and eight-tooth Romneys from the Chatham Islands sold at 19s to 235. The fat lamb entry numbered 2500, compared with 3800 last week. Values remained fully up to those of last week in spite of the absence of one large exporter. A feature of the sale was the keen operation of exporters for better class lambs., of which they bought a fairly large number. The yarding of fat sheep was 6000, which was about the same as last week. The quality was slightly better, the entry containing more sheep suitable for butchers’ requirements. From the outset the sale was slightly easier mainly because one of the export firms was not on the market except for odd lines of wethers, but prices were not quotable lower, however, except for freezing ewes, which were back 6d a head. Good quality sheep were bought eagerly by butchers. Extra prime heavy wethers made to 24s 7d, prime heavy 20s 9d to 225, prime medium 18s 6d to 20s 3d, light to 15s 6d, extra prime heavy ewes to 15s lOd, prime heavy 13s 6d to 15s, prime medium 11s 9d to 13s 3d, light to Bs.

Though the fat cattle entry of 480 head was substantially lower than that of the 560 for last week, prices again were weaker on those of last week for all except the very best. Best beef sold at about last week’s rates, but plain sorts were up to 10s a head cheaper. There was a large offering of plain medium-weight steers, and these were more than 10s cheaper in an erratic sale. Some of the plain cow beef was well below 20s a 1001 b. Extra prime heavy steers made to £l6 12s 6d, prime heavy £l3 5s to £l4 10s, prime medium, £ll to £l3 10s, light to £B, extra prime heifers to £lO 12s 6d, prime £9 to £10; medium £6 10s to £8 10s, light to £6 ss, extra prime cows to £lO 2s 6d, prime £6 10s to £8 10s, medium £5 to £6 ss, light to £4 10s.

Porkers came forward in the fat pig section in about the same numbers as last week. Prices showed very little change, but heavyweights, if anything, were a shade easier. Choppers were in medium supply and again met with an excellent sale. Baconers came forward in small numbers, and whereas heavyweights maintained last week’s rates lighter sorts were 2s to 3s easier. Porkers made £1 19s 6d to £2 17s 6d, the average price a lb being 6;' t d to 63d. Baconers made £2 16s 6d to £4 9s 6d, the average price a lb being 6d to 6?,d. Choppers made £3 3s 6d to £5 3s 6d.