IMPROVEMENT IN VALUES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26623, 20 November 1947, Page 5

IMPROVEMENT IN VALUES

Smaller Yardings at Burnside BEEF REALISES HIGH PRICES With smaller entries in the fat cattle and sheep sections, prices at Burnside yesterday showed an improvement on those of last week. The entry of fat cattle numbered 230 head as against 3GO last week. With this small number to hand, bidding was exceptionally keen and prices generally showed an improvement of £2 to £2 10s a head above those of last week. These prices were maintained regularly until the concluding race when values showed an easing on the opening rates. The quality generally was about average, there being only a few consignments of prime heavy bullocks forward. The bidding for prime light-weights was keen and exceptionally high prices were secured. In pens of this class of the best quality, values were in the vicinity of 90s to 95s per 1001 b. The yarding of sheep was again below butchers’ requirements and the quality was not up to recent standards. Many of the wethers forward were of ordinary class, while ewes which were over fat met with a dragging sale. Wethers of good quality could be quoted firm to a shade better than last week’s parity. The entry of fat lambs was the largest for the season, approximately 110 being penned. Good values were secured for all classes, with the exception of a few »pens of light lambs which were unsuitable for the trade.

The entry of store cattle comprised a few pens of mixed sorts, with only one pen of three-year-eld steers. Competition was again good and no trouble was experienced in disposing of any lots offered. The offering of baconers and porkers was a small one and well below the number required for the trade. Values were again well in vendors’ favour, some exceptionally high prices being secured.

Fat Cattle.—ln this section the number was well below that of last week, and it was apparent that the trade had nothing on hand. Consequently, the sale was a keen one throughout. The prices secured were well up to anything ruling this year, and in the case of prime light quality these were surpassed. One truck of good quality cattle on behalf of Hastings Brothers, Stirling, made from £37 2s 6d to £39 12s 6d, an average of £3B. Cows and heifers were also in short supply, and the quality generally was ordinary. These also had a good inquiry and sold above last week’s values. Quotations Prime heavy bullocks, £36 12s 6d to £39 12s 6d; prime £2B 2s 6d to £3l 17s 6d; medium, £24 17s 6d to £27 12s 6d; light, from £lB 12s 6d. Prime heifers, £lB 17s 6d to £2l 12s 6d; medium, £l4 12s 6d to £l6 2s 6d; light, from £ll 12s 6d. Prime heavy cows, to £25 12s 6d; prime, £l6 17s 6d to £l9 17s 6d; medium, £l2 12s 6d to £ls 2s 6d; light, from £9 17s 6d. Fat Sheep.—The entry of fat sheep numbered approximately 1700, or approximately 800 below last week’s offering. The demand for wethers was keen throughout,' with a rather dragging sale for ewes. It is quite apparent that the trade is keen to secure wether meat and has a strictly defined line of values for ewes. Quotations: Prime woolly wethers.

70s to 765; prime woolly ewes, 40s to 465; prime heavy shorn wethers, to 70s bd; prime, 60s to 655: medium, 47s to 535; light from 375. Prime young ewes, o4s to 575. Prime heavy ewes, 34s to 38s; prime, 30s to 325; medium, 26s 6d to 28s, light, from 21s. Spring Lambs.— Although the number of lambs was the largest to hand for the season, there was little alteration in values. The quality on the whole was good, there being only a few pens of light and unfinished sorts. Extra prime lambs made from 64s to 675: prime. 46s to 50s; medium. 38s to 41s; light, from 28s. Store Cattle.—The entry in this section was made up of a few pens of rather indifferent sorts. One pen of three-year-old steers, the only pen forward, made £l7 and one pen of yearling dairy heifers made £7 ss. while one pen of yearling steers made £7 18s. There was again a keen demand for vealers and the entry in this class was also a small one. Best runners made ffom £l2 to £l4: e°°d quality vealers £6 15s to £8; light ahfi medium, from £3 15s. Fat Pigs.—The entry of baconers and porkers comprised only a few pens Baconers met with a particularly keen demand, best sort making up to £9 ss; prime £8 4s to £8 17s; medium, £7 5s to £7 16s; light, from £6 18s. Porkers, of which there were only a few to hand, made from £5 16s to £6 43. Store pigs again came in for keen inquiry, best suckers making from 45S'to 50s, and medium, 34s to 38s.