THE LIVESTOCK MARKETS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 34, 10 February 1939, Page 11

THE LIVESTOCK MARKETS

VALUES AT ADDINGTON SOME DROPS RECORDED. [ Per Press Association.] CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 8. more was another heavy yarding of stere lambs at the weekly stock market at Addington to-day and values were again 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 was about 13,000, the heaviest for the season. For 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 per head. A feature of the yarding was the appearance of some excellent Romneys from Chatham S-lands and these met 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 at 9s 6d to 12s 6d. A line of good five year half-breds made to 12s 9d and another line 14s to 14s 3d. Two lots of good 6 and 8-tooth Romneys from Chatham Islands sold at 19s to 235. The fat lamb entry was 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. Theyarding of fat sheep was 6000, about the same as last week, and 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 o£ the export firms was not on the market except for odd lines of wethers, but prices were not quotable being lower, except for freezing ewes, which were hack 6d per head. Good quality sheep were eagerly bought by butchers. Extra prime heavy wethers made 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, 134 s 6d to 15s; prime medium, Ils 9d, 13s 3d, light to Bs. Although the fat cattle entry oi 480 was substantially lower than that of 550 last week the price was again 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 per head cheaper. There was a large offering of plain and mediumweight steers and these were more than 10s cheaper in an erratic sale. Some of the plain cow beef was well below 20s per 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 £8; extra prime heifers to £lO 12s 6d, prime, £9 to £lO, 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. Fat pigs and porkers came forward 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 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 per lb. being 6Jd to 63d. Baconers made £2 16s 6d to £4 9s 6d the average price per lb. being 6d 61d and choppers made £3 3s 6d to £5 3s 6d.