SLIGHT EASING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26842, 5 August 1948, Page 7

SLIGHT EASING

LARGER YARDINGS BURNSIDE STOCK SALE With larger offerings in the major sections at the Burnside market yesterday, prices generally were easier than those ruling for the past two weeks. An offering of 360 head of cattle, including a few consignments of good quality but with the greater proportion of the yarding ordinary and unfinished sorts, resulted in prices more particularly in the early part of the sale showing a decline of £1 a head for ox beef. During the concluding stages prices improved, and for the better class beef, there was little difference between the values secured and those of last week. Cows and heifers met with good competition and showed little alteration from the last two weeks.

The number of sheep penned was 2100, the offering being made up mostly of wethers, with a small offering of ewes. Although there were five or six trucks of good quality wethers, most of the yarding was of plain and average quality. At the commencement of the sale, the prices secured for wethers were 4s to 5s below last week’s, but as the sale went on there was a gradual hardening in values, which showed little alteration from previous sales. The sale, however, was a fluctuating one, and rather difficult in places to follow. On the average,

however, prices barely compared with those ruling for the past two weeks. Ewes, on the other hand, which were in short supply, were better by Is to 2s a head. The offering of store cattle was again a small one. there being only two or three pens of mixed class cattle, with practically no quotable lines on hand. Runners and vealers were also in under supply, the offering being .made up mostly of runners. These made good values. Baconers and porkers were forward in larger numbers and included some pens of good quality pigs. Prices for these were also under late ruling rates. There was again a good inquiry for good dairy cows, with only a small offering to hand. Fat Cattle With a fairly large offering compared with a week ago, buyers were not operating as keenly, and consequently there was an easing in values. The unusual point about the sale was the good demand for cows and heifers, these meeting with good ■ competition throughout Top price for the day was secured by a consignment from the Taieri on account of Mr A. S. Murray, these realising up to £32 17s 6d, an average of £3l 8s for the truck. Quotations. —Prime heavy ox, to £32 17s 6d; prime, £25 7s 6d to £2B 12s 6d; medium, £22 2s 6d to £23 17s 6d; light, from £lB 17s 6d. Extra prime heavy heifers, to £24 12s 6d; prime heavy, to £2l 7s 6d; prime, £ls 17s 6d to £l7 17s 6d; medium, £l2 17s 6d to £l4 2s 6d; light, from £lO 12s 6d. Prime heavy cows, to £2l 2s 6d; prime, £l4 2s 6d to £l7 2s 6d: medium, £ll 12s 6d to £l2 17s 6d: light, from £9 2s 6d. Fat Sheep In the offering of fat sheep, wethers were the predominating factor, with ewes in under supply. After the opening of the sale, good quality wethers met with a better demand, while the ordinary and plainer sorts met with a rather fluctuating market. Ewes were in better demand, and hence the Improved values. Hoggets had a short supply of only medium quality. Quotation?. —Extra prime heavy wethers, to 925; prime heavy, 86s 'to 88s; prime, 80s to 84s; medium, 653 to 725; light, from 565. Prime heavy ewes, to 55s 6d; prime, 44s to 495; medium, 36s to 38s; light, from 325. Prime hoggets, 40s to 455. Fat Pigs With an increased offering of fat pigs the prices secured were barely up to recent rates. Included in the entry were a number of consignments of good quality, of which there has been a short supply for some weeks. Best" baconers made up to £8 15s; prime, £7 10s to £7 18s; medium, £6 17s to £7 25;., light, from £6. Best porkers, £4 14s to £5; light and medium, from £3 16s.