STOCK MARKET

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 March 1939, Page 3

STOCK MARKET

PRICES AT ADDINGTON. EWES DOWN IN VALUE. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, March 29. Better classes in the fat cattle sections showed an improvement in price at the Addington stock sale today, but other lines of fat cattle showed no change. Except for the best lines, values for fat wethers and fat sheep showed a decline.

The store sheep entry was about 25,000, the largest this season, and was 7000 more than a week ago. Good rape lambs were in brisk demand, making up to 15s 6d and 16s 6d for a few pens of the best. Anything below rape quality was hard to sell at easier values and the best of the others ranged at from 10s to 11s 6d. The greater proportion of the lamb entry sold at from 7s downward. Though ewes met a-hard sale at the start, the inquiry for them improved later, but values for this class were not up to late rates. Younger sheep met with a steady sale. A good pen of two-tooth Romneys sold at 355, three-quarterbred pen at 27s 9d, and a pen of half-breds at 28s. Old ewes, sold very irregularly and many were quitted at 2s to ss. The fat lamb entry totalled about 2000 head, and the sale was again keen. Exporters were active on the 7d schedule, but there were no cases of this figure being exceeded. Butchers secured . their requirements at export schedule rates and in cases extra prime pens were sold at a shade more. The entry of about 6200 fat sheep was the largest for some time. Ewes formed much the larger proportion and- the quality generally was fair. A healthier sign was the revival in the activity of the freezing works buyers, all companies operating except one. This buying accounted for a good proportion of the lighter ewes, exporters paying to 8s 6d. Outstanding pens of wethers brought prices practically equal to the best rates at the recent sales, but the medium sorts were cheaper than a week ago. Good and medium ewes were down by up to Is 6d, but the fact that the market did not lose all last weeks improvement must be deemed satisfactory considering the much heavier penning. Extra prime heavy wethers made to 28s Id; prime heavy, 22s to 255; prime medium, 18s 6d to 21s 6d; light, to 14s; extra prime heavy ewes, to 24s 4d; prim heavy, 16s 6d to 19s; prime medium, 11s to 15s; light, to 7s For the better classes of fat cattle, there was a keen demand with an increase of from 10s to 15s. Best beef made to 37s a 1001 b, with the bulk of the serviceable to good quality making 33s to 36s and the inferior down to 255. Extra prime heavy steers made to £lB 12s 6d; prime heavy, £l4s to £l5 ss; prime medium, £l2 to £l4; light, to £9; extra prime heifers to £ll 12s 6d; prime, £8 15s to £10; medium, £6 10s to £8 10s; light, to £6 ss; extra prime cows, to £lO 7s 6d; prime, £7 5s to £8 15s; medium, £5 10s to £6 15s; light, to £5 ss. The entry of porkers met with keen competition throughout. Prices were slightly better than those realised last week. Choppers were in good supply with the values unchanged. A medium supply of baconers came forward and last week’s values were fully maintained. Choppers made £2 Ils to £4 18s 6d; porkers, £2 Is 6d; to £2 17s 6d, an average price a lb o f 6Jd to 7Jd; baconers, £2 17s 6d to £4 15s 6d, an average price a lb of 6d to 63d.

masterton sale. IMPROVEMENT IN PRICES. The Associated Auctioneers report having held their weekly sale yesterday when a fair yarding of sheep and lambs came forward and were submitted to a good attendance, including a few outside buyers. The few fats offered sold on a par with last week’s sale. The few breeding ewes offering and all lambs met with a much better sale than anticipated, and we have to report an improvement of fully 2s per head on the last two week’s sales. A total clearance at auction was effected at the following prices:—

Fat sheep: Fat wethers 17s 9d to 18s 8d; fat ewes 10s 6d to 12s; light 7s to 9d; fat lambs 16s 3d to 17s sd. Store sheep: 2th ewes 19s 2d to 20s 3d; small Ils 6d; syr ewes 12s to 14s 6d; aged ewes 8s; 4th wethers 17s 6d; 2th wethers 13s 3d, 14s 4d to 15s 2d; small do 10s 4d, 11s 2d to 12s 4d; good woolly wether lambs 10s 2d to Ils Id; med 8s to 9s; small 5s 6d to 6s 6d; shorn wether lambs 6s, 7s 6d to 8s 9d; ewe lambs 10s 6d, 11s to Ils 6d; small ss, 6s to 8d; b.f. lambs Bs, 9s to 13s 3d. Pigs: Weaners ss, 6s to Bs.