SELLING FAT CATTLE BY WEIGHT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2118, 30 October 1890, Page 3

SELLING FAT CATTLE BY WEIGHT.

On the Bfch July last, for the first time, Messrs direr and Son, Yalleyfield street, Edinburgh, one of the largest stock-dealing firms in the south of Scotland, at their usual Edinburgh stock sale for fat stock, had in operation a large weighbridge, which has just been erected to their order by Messrs Henry Pooley and Son, Liverpool and Glasgow. In appearance the weighbridge resembles a large oblong iron pen, with sliding gates. Underneath it, and below the floor level, are the usual steelyard weighing arrangements, while in connection with it, and facing the sale ring, is a large circular clock dial with indicator and weights marked up to four tons. The cattle on their way to the ring passed over the weighbridge and, were detained for a moment there while their weight was recorded by the indicator on the dial in sight of the buyers, who had thus an accurate record of the weights of the animals they wore buying, instead of having to guess it by any method as formerly.

On the other hand, the salesman was able to encourage the bidders by reminding them of the weight of the animals in the ring, and both parties seemed well pleased with the issults. Though the sale was a heavy one, the weighing of cattle in this way produced no delay—a fresh beast or pair of beasts being put on the weighbridge while the sale of those last sold went on in the ring. In connection with these weighing-machines, tables hare been prepared, so that by a simple calculation a buyer can tell to a pound what he is purchasing. The publication of lireweigbt quotations has given a great impetus to the system of selling fat stock by weight, and auctioneers at Home are responding to the desire on the part of their clients that this method should be adopted for fat stock by erecting weighing-machines in their sale-rings, so giving effect to their wishes.