FAT CATTLE EASIER

Evening Star, Issue 23861, 16 April 1941, Page 8

FAT CATTLE EASIER

FURTHER DECLINE IN SHEEP LAMBS BRING LATE RATES Fat cattle were offered at Burnside in a fairly largo yarding of 311 head. In the ox section the bulk of the yarding was made up of prime and medium, with only a few pens of extra heavy quality. Cows and heifers were in fairly large supply, and although there were a few pons of exceptionally good quality the bulk was made up of medium and inferior sorts. The market opened a shade easier than last week, a fairly dragging sale resulting until the last two races, when the market firmed and could be quoted equal to last week’s rates. Extra heavy bullocks made up to £l7, prime £l4 to £ls 10s, while extra good quality cows mado up to £l3. On the average prices could bo quoted at 10s to 15s lower than last week’s ruling rates. In the store cattle section there was a small yarding of approximately 100 head. The sale lacked life, for all classes. One pen of two-and-a-half-year-dld steers realised £7 15s, and ono-and-a-half to two-year-olds £5 5s to £6 ss. A number of pens were passed at auction. Cows and heifers were in limited numbers, likewise meeting with a slack sale, and poorer sorts were difficult to dispose of. A limited number of dairy cows could be described as only medium, but any cows of quality a.nd close to profit were in good demand, realising up to £l4. Approximately 650 fat lambs comprised a rather smaller yarding than usual. With the exception of a few pens of extra and prime quality, the yarding was made up mostly of medium and light sorts, many of the lambs yarded showing the effects of recent weather. One pen of exceptionally good quality made up to 355. With fairly keen bidding from the butchers, the sale was firm throughout. Prime lambs brought from 25s to 27s 6d, and medium 22s 6d to 24s 6d. A large yarding of fat sheep, comprising 2,500, was offered. Ewes again comprised the bulk of the yarding, there being several pens of prime quality. Lighter sorts were not greatly in evidence, while the usual number of prime quality wethers was not forward, the yarding being mostly medium and unfinished. The sale opened for ewes at 2s under the _ previous sale, prime wethers Is. Lighter and unfinished wethers were not in demand. Best wethers made up to 295, prime young ewes 17s, while prime ewes could be quoted at 11s ,6d to 13s 6d, and lUedinm 8s 6d to 10s. With the help of outside competition a fairly even sale was maintained throughout, particularly for ewes. Following are the estimates for beet a 1001 b and the prices a lb for mutton, compared with last week’s rates:—

There was a fairly large yarding of fat pigs,' comprising 240. The yarding was made up mostly of prime haconers, with a larger number of porkers than the last sale. The market opened a shade easier, this being maintained practically throughout. Best haconers made up to £4 16s, and porkers £3 9s. Prime haconers and porkers Could be quoted at 7)d lb. r

Last This week. week. s. d. s. d. Prime heavy ox beef 35 6 34 6 Prime ox 40 0 38 6 Prime medium ox ... 38 6 37 6 Ordinary ox ... ... 35 6 34 6 Extra prime heifers 83 0 32 0 Prime heifers ..._ ... 34 0 33 0 Med. and Igt. heifers 32 0 31 0 Extra prime cows ... 24 0 23 6 Prime cows 26 0 24 6 Med. and light cows 20 0 20 0 Prime heavy wethers 0 a 0 4i Prime wethers ... ’... 0 45 0 4* Med. and Igt. wethers 0 4i 0 4 Prime heavy ewes ... 0 2i 0 2 Prime ewes_ ... ... 0 2} . 0 25 Med. and light eiwes 0 2 0 2 Prime lambs 0 85 0 85 Medium lambs 0 8} 0 85