Mixed Offering For Open Cattle Sale

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31661, 23 April 1968, Page 24

Mixed Offering For Open Cattle Sale

Values were at more modest levels at the Ashburton open cattle sale held at Tinwald yesterday, mainly because the yarding was of no more than average quality and of an end-of-season type.

The gallery following the sale was not large. The main buyers now having filled their requirements, competition was reduced and selling was harder. While some observers considered that the market was easier, others contended that for the average quality selection values were probably near expectations.

The yarding totalled 636 head, and included 400 calves, 102 older steers and 134 cows and heifers. Most of the cattle were offered in small lots and only a small proportion of the pens were carrying tickets showing the names of vendors. Some cattle came from as far away as Otago. The sale opened with cows and heifers and in the view of some followers of the sale some of the cattle were making only boner rates to a shade better, but there was a reasonable inquiry for guaranteed cattle.

For the better mated cows in the yarding prices ranged from about $76 to $BO, with average selling down to $6l. Mated heifers realised up to $B3. This latter price was received for three Herefords which had been running with a Polled Hereford bull since the beginning of December. They were from G. B. Gerard (Montalto). Three more of the same breeding made $7B. Six Aberdeen Angus Hereford cross cows which have been with a black bull sold for $BO on account of a client; J. P. Nicol (Montalto) received $7B for 10 Hereford cows which have been with a Polled Hereford bull since November 4; and C. H. Gallagher (Montalto) obtained $76 for 20 black cows which have been running with a black bull since November 12 Twenty-six 18-month-old empty Shorthorn heifers from the estate L. .J. Fechney (Westerfield) brought from $BO to $B2. Sale of Steers

Most of the offering of steers consisted of 18-months cattle and these looked relatively cheap compared with calf prices.

The best of the selection brought from $76 to $BO. with medium at $63 to $69, and others at $56 to $5B. One of the best sales in this section was made for eight Hereford steers from R. J. Cooper (Westerfield) which realised $BO. A single black steer brought $lOO and two-year-old steers made to $B6. Heifer calves predominated in the calf sale. The calves were generally of no more than average quality and at the best were selling on about a par with late rates on a quality for quality basis and they may have eased back in the concluding stages under limited competition.

The best of the Hereford or Hereford cross heifer calves realised from $49 to $55.50, with medium sorts at $42 to $49 and others at $37 to $39.

One of the main offerings in the heifer calf sale was from : the Mount Possession Run Com- | pany in the Ashburton Gorge. | These were Herefords that had been through the snow of last November and had suffered a 'check. The top cut of 10 brought $55.50 and 22 sold at $49 The balance of the calves in the line of 123 from the station ranged down to $37. The pick of the Aberdeen Angus and Aberdeen Angus cross sold from $46 to $5O. with medium at $4O to $45 and others at $31.50 to $36. Here M. M Curd (Lauriston) had a pen which sold for $5O. Nine Shorthorn cross calves from Te Awataha Farm (Riverside) also brought $48.50.

There was only a handful of steer calves. Medium class Aberdeen Angus and Aberdeen Angus cross sold from $5O to $56 with others making from $3B to $45.50. Aberdeen Angus calves from Proutings (Mesopotamia). Ltd. made to $5l and ranged down to $3B. Friesians sold from $35 to $39 with an odd

sale to $54, and Te Awataha Farm sold a Shorthorn cross steer calf at $7l and four more at $5l.