BURNSIDE STOCK SALES

Evening Star, Issue 22143, 25 September 1935, Page 12

BURNSIDE STOCK SALES

PHENOMENAL RISE IN SHEEP VALUES Vendors have every reason to be highly satisfied with the result of tue safe of fat sheep at Burnside to-day. The main topic of conversation at the yards was the sale, which apparently knew no bounds so far as prices were concerned, as recent values were exceeded by surprisingly large amounts. Some were of the opinion that this was the best sale on record, but if this were not actually the case, any better sale was so long ago that it must escape the memory. The average increases in prices compared with last week’s rates were from 5s to 6s a head on wethers and from 6s to 8s a head on ewes, although there were occasions when even these staggering rises' were exceeded. There was also a general improvement in the fat cattle prices, bullocks being from 10s to 15s a head dearer than last week, and cows and heifers 20s better. The fact that the sheep yarding was one of the smallest of the season was partly responsible for the phenomenal rise "in prices. Only about 960 head came forward, and the quality generally was much below the standard shown at recent sales. Prime heavy wethers were in short supply, the bigger proportion of the section being made up of medium stuff. A few pens of specially good ewes, with a balance of mediums, some lacking finish, comprised the remainder of the penning, values soared from the beginning of the sale. Competition was not lacking from the start, and consequently there was an all-round 3s rise, which, however, was quickly pushed up to almost record proportions. Ewes were selling to 42s 3d, _ which is undoubtedly the highest price paid for many years, while wethers were bringing to 465, this figure topping all prices obtained for some considerable time. Such a sudden rise in values is unprecedented in the history of the weekly sales. Hoggets were fairly plentiful, and sold well, but not at such a largo increase as the sheep. Only two spring lambs were sent in, and these sold at 295. The percentage ot prime bullocks in the total yarding of 204 fat cattle was bigger than at last week’s sale, there beiim about seven trucks of this class. Indifferent quality was seen in the remainder of the yarding. A few specially *good cows and heifers were also sent in, but the bulk of t 1 e class showed plain and unfinished quality. Competition from the start was good, but prices were barely on a par with last week. However, the market firmed to the high values ruling a week ago, and after the first few .pens had been sold prime bullocks showed an advance of from 10s to 15s, while good cows and heifers improved to the extent of 20s. Heavy prime bullocks did not improve as much as the medium ones, while unfinished sorts were inclined to ease a little at times. The highest price gained was £l6 los, which went to Mr J. Murray, ot Mosgiel, while other good drafts from Balclutha realised from £ls to £l6.

Cattle prices:—Stronach, Morris, mo Company:—Extra heavy bullocks, 6d to 17s Cd; heavy, £lO 17s 6cl to £l2 17s Cel; medium, £8 17s 6d to. £9 17s 6d; light, £7 l7s Cd; heavy cows, £7 7s 6d to £8 17s Cd r » ed ''‘ n h £5 17s 6d to £6 17s Cd; flight £4 17s 6d. Donald Reid and Company; Extra heavy bullocks. £l3 7s Cdr heavy, £lO 17s 6d to £l2 7s 6d ■ medium, £8 17s Cd to £9 17s Cd“edJ“m heifers, £6,12s Cd; light, £5 12s 6d. Wright, Stephenson and Company: Extra heavy bullocks, £l3 17s Cd; heavy £ll 2s Cd to £l2 17s Gd; 2V ed^ m V^ 8 17 '\ 6d f° £9 17s 6d i light r , 6c ; extra heavy heifers, £lO 7s 6d: heavy, £8 2s Ctf; extra heavy cows, £9 17s Cd to £l2 2s Cd; heavy to t 7 i S r i/ ne m £5 17s 6d to £S 12s Cd; light, £4 17s Cd. Dalgety and Company; Extra heavy bullocks, £l2 V s hd to £l6 12s Cd; heavy £ll o s W.to £l2 17s Cd; medium, £8 17 4 9 17s ed l light, £7 dd ; extra heavy cows, £9 7s Cd to £1! 2s Cd; medium, £7 17s Gd to £8 17s' bd. Otago Farmers’ Co-operative Association : Extra heavy bullocks, £l3 7s 010^ 1 ?! 178 6 r ; heavy ’ £ll 7s 6d t 0 £!2 17s Cd ; medium, £9 2s Cd to £lO 6d ,; hght, £7; medium heifers, £6 Ivf hi; light, £5 17s Cd; lieavy cows, £7 17s Cd to £8 12s Cd; medium, £5 12s 6d to £6 17s Cd; light, £4 17s Cd. New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Extra heavy bullocks, £l3 17s Cd to £ls 12s Gd; heavy, £ll 12s Cd to £l2 17s Cd; medium. £9 2s Cd to £lO 2s Cd • extra heavy heifers, £lO 12s Cd; heavy £9 2s Cd; medium, £6 17s Gd; light! £5 17s Cd; extra heavy cows, £9 17s°6d ; heavy, £7 17s Cd to £8 12s Cd; medium, £5 17s Cd; light, l £4 17s Cd. National Mortgage and Agency Company: Extra heavy bullocks, £l3 12s Cd; heavy, £ll 17s Cd to £l2 17s Cd; medium. £9 7s Cd to £lO 2s Cd; light, £7 17s Cd ; medium cows, £6 17s Cd to £7 17s Cd; extra heavy cows, £9 12s Cd; heavy, £7 17s Cd to £8 7s Cd; medium, £5 17s Cd to £6 17s Cd; light, £4 17s Cd. Two pens of steers and a .sprinkling of one and a-half to two-year-old heifers appeared in the store cattle pens. Due to the dry weather and shortage of feed, prices were not high, and sales were difficult to make. Heifers sold from 30s to £2 ss, and the three-year-old steers brought from £4 Is to £5 16s.' There was a very good sale of vealers, butchers being keen buyers, but the small yarding of boner cows of poor quality could command only late rates.

If anything, there were slight reductions in pig values. Porkers sold from 30s to £2 12s, being worth about CJd lb, while baeoners brought from £2 15s to £4 Cs, being equal to about CJd lb.