IMPROVED CATTLE MARKET

Evening Star, Issue 23968, 20 August 1941, Page 8

IMPROVED CATTLE MARKET

FAT SHEEP FIRM Fat cattle numbering 280 were penned at Burnside to-day. In the ox section there were several pens of prime quality forward, with only a limited number of medium and light. The quality on the whole compared favourably with any previous yarding for some time. Fat cows and heifers were jn short supply, fchese including a few pens of good quality. The market opened firm on last week’s sale with keen competition throughout, and t towards the last race prices increased from 15s to 20s a head on the opening rates. Cows and heifers showed a decided improvement mi the previous sate, in some case being 25s to 30s a head better. Extra prime bullocks made up to £22 17s 6d, prime from £lB 10s to £2O, and prime cows and heifers up to £l7. In the store cattle section there were only a few nondescript sorts with no quotable lines. The number of vealers were in short supply, bringing a firm sale. Best quality made up to £5 10s. medium from £3 15s to £4 10s. The dairy cow section brought forward 25 head, with nothing of outstanding quality. The top price realised was £9 15s. Fat sheep numbering 2,000 head were offered. These comprised mostly ewes, there being several pens of prime quality. Wethers were not forward in the same numbels as last week, and hoggets were in short supply, selling at increased values. The market opened firm on the previous sale, good quality ewes showing an improvement of Is 6d a head, while medium could be quoted firm on last week. Butchers’ wethers were in keen demand and good quality were efirm to a shade better. Extra prime wethers brought up to 37s 3d, prime from 30s to 33s 6d, extra prime ewes 275, and prime from 20s 6d to 23s 6d. Following are the estimates for beef a hundred lb and the prices a lb for mutton, compared with last week’s

In the fat pig section there was an average yarding of baconers with rather an over-supply of porkers. The market for baconers was firm on last week s sale while porkers showed a decline of 5s a bead. Best baconers made up to £4 19s (8-id a lb), and best porkers £3 6s (Bsd a lb).

rates: —• Last This week. week. s. d. s. d. Prime heavy os beef 43 0 44 0 Prime os 47 0 47 6 Prime medium ox ... 48 6 46 0 Ordinary ox ... ... 43 6 44 6 Extra prime heifers 38 6 40 0 Prime heifers 42 6 43 6 Med. and ,lgt. heifers 41 0 41 6 Extra prime cows ... 29 6 34 6 Prime cows 32 0 39 0 Med. and light cows 26 6 30 0 Prime heavy wethers 0 5 0 5 Prime wethers 0 5* 0 54 Med. and Igt. wethers 0 4J 0 5 Prime heavy ewes ... 0 34 0 34 Prime ewes 0 34 0 34 Med. and light ewes 0 3:V 0 34 Prime hoggets 0 8J 0 84 Medium hoggets 0 8 0 84