Beef and Fat Sheep at Burnside

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26628, 26 November 1947, Page 7

Beef and Fat Sheep at Burnside

SPRING LAMB IN DEMAND

Compared with last week, there was a decided easing in the values of fat cattle at the Burnside market yesterday. The quality was the best which has been in the yards, for many weeks, with an increased number of heavy-weights.

Heavy-weight cattle, as a result of the warmer weather, did not have anything like the inquiry of former sales, and were easier by £3 10s to £4 a head on last week’s rates. Light-weight cattle, however, did not show the same depreciation, and could be quoted £2 to £2 10s easier. Cows and heifers were in fairly short supply, and although the market was not as buoyant for this class as last week, good values were again secured.

The yarding of fat sheep was somewhat equal to that in numbers of last week, and was made up mostly of ewes. The sale had an easier tendency from the outset, prices at the beginning of the sale being easier by Is 6d to 2s a head, and towards the concluding races, prices were easier by 3s to 4s a head on last week. Ewes also had a poorer inquiry and showed about the same depreciation. Heavyweight ewes had a weak demand.

Young wethers and ewes are the best sellers, and any pens of this class met with good competition. The offering of spring lamb was the largest to date, and the quality was particularly good. High prices were again secured for all lots suitable for the trade, but anything young, not suitable, had rather a poor inquiry.

The offering of store cattle was a negligible one, with no quotable lines forward. Runners and vealers had a particularly strong inquiry, and sold well up to late values, and in places, showed an improvement. Baconers and porkers, which were in short supply, had a ready sale, porkers in particular making high values.

Fat Cattle. —In this section, the number offered was 340 head. The quality was particularly good and, with the result of the increased yarding and the sale being a day earlier, the demand and the prices secured could not be compared with those of last week. Some exceptionally good consignments were forward, and would have been better had they been offered two or three weeks earlier. One consignment of prime quality bullocks offered on account of J. W. Irving, Oamaru, made from £34 17s 6d to £37 7s 6d. an average of £36 ss. Quotations:--Prime heavy bullocks, £34 12s 6d to £37 7s 6d; prime. £27 17s 6d to £3O 17s 6d; medium. £23 17s 6d to £26 17s 6d; lignt. from £l7 2s 6d. Prime heifers, £l7 17s 6d to £2O 12s 6d; medium, £l4 12s 6d to £l6 7s 6d; light, from £ll 12s 6d. Prime heavy cows, to £2l 2s 6d; prime, £l6 12s 6d to £l9 7s 6d; medium, £l2 7s 6d to £l4 17s 6d: light, from £9 7s 6d. Fat Sheep.—The entry in this section numbered approximately 1700. With the exception of two to three consignments of prime quality wethers, and the same number of ewes, the bulk of the yarding was mostly of medium and average sorts. The price secured for wethers, with the

exception of the young class, showed an easing, of 3s to 4s below last week, while ewes also met with a rather dragging sale, showing a decline of about the same figure. Quotations: —Prime .heavy shorn wethers, 63s to 655: prime, 57s to 60s; medium. 47s to 50s: light, from 355. Prime young ewes, 48s to 525; prime heavy ewes, 33s to 365; prime. 29s to 31s; medium, 25s to 275; light, from 20s. Spring Lamb.—The entry of spring lamb comprised exceptionally g°° d quality, and all classes suitable for the trade met with good competition. Prices barely reached those of last week, hut there was no difficulty in disposing of all suitable lots at good values. Best quality lamb made from 46s to 50s: medium. 43s to 45s Store Cattle.—The offering in this section was made up of two to three pens of mixed sorts, there being. no quotable lines offering. Runners and vealers were in keen demand and reached probably the highest values for many sales. Good quality runners made from £l3 to £ls: best vealers. £6 15s to £7 10s: medium, £4 17s to £5 3s: small and light, from £3 17s. Fat Pigs.—There was again a strong inquiry for baconers and porkers, the numbers to hand being well 'below requirements. Bacon prices remained firm, while porkers, which were in short supply, had a particularly keen inquiry. Best baconers made up to £9 4s; prime, £8 5s to £8 18s; medium. £7 5s to £7 17s; light, from £6 18s. Good quality porkers made from £5 17s to £6 ss, light and medium, from £4 17s. Store pigs again were readily sold. Best suckers can be quoted from 44s to 48s and medium from 34s to 375.