GENERAL STOCK REPORT.

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 1, 31 March 1893, Page 8

GENERAL STOCK REPORT.

The fortnightly stock market was held in the Invercargill Sale Yards on Tuesday, the 21st inst. The number of sheep forward fairly hooded the market. Every available yard intended for sheep and a great number of the cattle pens, besides pens erected temporarily with hurdles, wei’e filled. (Speaking of the entry generally, they were not a first-class lot. a. large number being lambs, of which the best had been picked out for the freezing works, consequently farmers purchasing lambs to keep.have to be satisfied with second class animals. Tins is no douot the one objection to these otherwise valuable institutions, the freezing works • that while the very best of our ewe limbs art' being killed, our flocks will very soon fall considerably from their present high standard of quality, and become smaller and weaker eonstitutlonally. It will soon be a question for farmers to consider whether it will not he more profitable to retiin their best ewe lambs for breeding purposes, thin to accept a tempting price of a. few shillings each extra and allow their flocks to drift. Prices, generally speaking, are not equal to those ruling for sheep at tins time last year, but it is new generally admitted that they were 1 10 dear about, that time, many having purchased them at prices that really hr light them out at a loss after consuming several months feed. This experience makes buyers very shy, consequently prices all round tins year are a shade lower than vendors expected, lie se remarks apply to all Southland, so no doubt those holding stock i r sale wdl have to to be satisfied with what buyers consider they can give for them. The fat stock market is steady, especially as regards sheep and lambs. iVlany good pi 'ges now attend all the sales, and they bring close id to what they realise in the works, at which price butchers must compete for them. Eat cattle are in fair demand and may he qu ted at up to 20s per 1001 b for best quality. Pigs, at medium weights, are in good demand, and very scarce. Many sides now pass without a. single entry being forward. Prices arc now up to a paying point, and it is to he hoped farmers may again turn their attention to the useful porker.