FAT OXEN PRICES

Evening Star, Issue 25634, 7 November 1945, Page 6

FAT OXEN PRICES

HIGHEST IN YEARS LARGE SPRING LAMB ENTRY With the exception of aged fat ewes, the market for all classes of fat stock at the weekly sale at Burnside to-day showed an improvement on values at the previous auction. The fat cattle sale was a particularly good one, and prices on the average could be quoted from 30s to 35s in advance of the sale last week. The quality generally was fairly good, with an absence of any heavy-weight cattle ; The prices for fat oxen were the highest at this sale for many years. One exceptional bullock of show quality brought £39 7s 6d. Extra prime bullocks auctioned up to £35 7s 6d; prime, £25 175.6 d to £32 7s 6d; medium, £2O 12s 6d to £22 17s 6d; and light from £l7 12s 6d. .. Extra prime heifers brought up to £2l 2s 6d; prime, £l6 12s 6d to £l9 2s 6d; medium. £l3 2s 6d to £ls 2s 6d; and light from £lO 12s 6d. Extra prime cows sold up to £l9 17s 6d; prime, £l2 12s 6d to £l7 2s 6d; medium, £9 17s 6d to £ll 17s 6d; and light from £8 12s 6d. The number of fat cattle yarded was 260. The entry of fat sheep numbered about 1,900, and the greatest bulk of the yarding again comprised' ewes,' vrfth a small offering of wethers. The market for ewes and young ewes was again a keen one, and prices for these were firm on last week's values Other classes, of ewes were a shade easier during parts of the auction. Prime woolly wethers brought from 62s to 665; medium, 50s to 54s j and light from 38s 6d. Prime shorn wethers auctioned from 53s to 555: medium, 44s to 48s; and light from 335. Prime; woolly young ewes fetched up to 575; prime heavy woolly ewes brought up to 43s 6d; prime ewes, 35s to 38s; medium. 27s 6d to 30s. and light from 245. Prime shorn ewes auctioned from 27s to 30s: medium. 22s 6d to 24s 6d; and light from 19s. The yarding of spring lambs was a large one about 240 being offered. Many of the lambs penned were too small for butchers' requirements. _ In consequence of the large entry prices were easier, but, considering the quality, tie market finished on a strong basis. Best quality lambs realised from 42s to 475; medium, 35s to 37s 6d; and light from 235. The store cattle yarding was a small one, and the entry was of poor class. One pen of mixed two-and-a-half-year-old steers brought £lO 12s. There was again a keen demand for vealers,. best runners fetching from £lO to £l2. Good! vealers brought from £5 to £7, and smaller from £3 10s upwards. There was a larger offering" of baconers than usual, and they again met with steady competition throughout the auction. The quality forward was generally better than has been the case for some time. Best choppers made from £ll to £l3; extra prime baconers from £9 3s; prime, £7 5s to £8 7s; medium, £5 18s to £6 14s; and small from £4 19s.