BEEF PRICES FIRM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26693, 12 February 1948, Page 9

BEEF PRICES FIRM

Easier Values for Fat Sheep BURNSIDE STOCK MARKET Values for fat cattle at the Burnside sale yesterday were well up to those ruling last week. In the earlier part of the sale the demand was. 1 keen and prices for anything showing quality could be quoted £1 above last week. Towards the concluding ulages, however, bidding was not as keen and prices dropped to about last week’s level. On the average, the market could be quoted firm to 10s a head better. The quality of the yarding was good and included a number of pens of nice quality cattle. Cows were forward in larger numbers and these did not appear to, attract the same attention as in the previous two weeks. Heifers were in shorter supply and those forward met with a ready sale. The offering of sheep included many pens of choice wethers and ewes and these attracted good competition, but not to the same extent as at last week's higher values. Young sheep, however, are attractive to buyers, and for these better values were secured. ■ In the store cattle section, the entry was the largest to hand for many weeks, and included was a straight line from the Lakes district. At the commencement of this sale, buyers were rather dubious owing to the continued spell of dry weather; but after the commencement, this feeling seemed to disappear and good values were again secured. For class the entry was the best for some time, and not doubt this had an effect on the demand. The display of fat lambs was better than has been offered for some time, and included a few consignments of extra good quality. The prices secured were very Arm on recent sales and generally throughout there was more animation than has been displayed for some lime. The offering of baconers and porkers was somewhat similar to that of recent sales, but competition was barely equal to that which has been ruling for the past few sales.

Fat Cattle.—The fat cattle yarding numbered 3150 head, mostly good quality ox with a limited number of heifers. Cows were forward in larger numbers ana barely reached last week’s values. Considering the fairly large yarding of last week, prices were regular throughout, and generally showed an improvement on last week’s sale. Quotations: Extra prime bullocks, to £2B 7s 6d; prime, £23 7s 6d to .£25 17s 6d; medium, £2O 17s 6d to £22 12s 6d; light, from £l3. Prime heifers, £l4 17s 6d to £l6 7s 6d; medium, £l2 17s 6d to £l3 17s 6d; light, from £lO 12s 6d. Prime cows, £l3 2s fad to £ls 17s 6d; medium, £ll 2s 6d to £l2 7s 6d;. light, from £8 7s 6d. Fat Sheep.—The fat sheep entry numbered 1900, with many pens of good quality. The offering of wethers was larger than at the previous week’s sale, and consequently prices were easier by 2s to 3s a head. Ewes also shared in the same depreciation. Quotations: Prime heavy wethers, to 58s; prime, 53s to 565; medium, 45s to 47s 6d; light, from Jls; prime heavy ewes, to 30s; prune, 25s ba to 28s; medium. 22s to 245; light, from 19s. Fat Lambs.—The fat lamb entry numbered 1450, including a number of goou quality lambs. Bidding was regulai throughout from the trade and export buyers, and the sale appeared to be a particularly firm one. Prices were well up to schedule rates, and in cases above this level Quotations: Extra prime lambs, 45s to 495; prime, 38s 6d to 41s 6d; medium, 35s to 375; light, from 28s. Store Cattle.—The entry of store cattle was easily the best to hand for many weeks. There was a fairly large attendance of buyers, and after the commencement of the sale bidding was fairly keen and the prices secured appeared to be well in vendors’ favour. Weil-grcwn, forward-conditioned sorts had the bettei inquiry, while younger cattle were somewhat slower of sale. Four-year-old steers in fresh condition made from £l6 10s to £l9; average three to four-year-old