VALUES EASIER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27572, 14 December 1950, Page 11

VALUES EASIER

Fat Stock Sections

BURNSIDE MARKET Values for all classes of fat stock at yesterday's Burnside market were easier compared with last week’s sale. Fat sheep, of which there was a fairly large yarding, had a sharp decline from last week, the reduction in values being from 10s to 12s a head. In the early part of the sale prices were even further back, but there was a gradual improvement during the sale, and prices rose by 3s to 4s a head on opening rates. Spring lamb, of which there was a fair offering, met with a particularly keen sale in the early stages, but later prices fell away by 5s to 6s a head. The entry of fat cattle numbered 360 head, most of which were fairly good quality, with a few pens of outstanding sorts. In the early stages the sale was a dragging one, prices being well behind those of previous weeks, but values improved as the sale progressed, the last race of the day being £1 to £1 5s a head better than the opening rates. The offering of store cattle was again a small one, there being only a couple of pens of fairly decent sorts, the balance of the offering being mostly of young and poor descriptions. There was little life

in the sale, and only the better sorts commanded any attention. The offering of runners and vealers was the largest for some weeks, and prices for these had a severe setback on recent sales. In the concluding stages of this sale many lots were passed, and were difficult to dispose of after the sale. , ~ , Baconers and porkers had a fairly good offering, beconers being forward in the usual numbers, with an increased offering of porkers. Values for baconers showed little alteration, but porkers particularly late in the sale, were well behind recent sales. Store pigs were in strong demand, especially weaners, the prices for these being <probably the highest secured at Burnside for many years. The next sale, a double market, will be held on Tuesday, December 19, when it is expected that lamb will be the principal entry. FAT CATTLE With a faily large yarding of fat cattle to hand and lack of outside competition, prices were well behind those of the last two sales. Buyers were bidding cautiously and only the better classes had anything like attention. Cows also met with a neglected sale, and these also showed a decrease in values. Any cattle of heavy weight or too heavy for the trade sold at decreased values.. Quotations.—Extra prime bullocks, to £39 17s 6d; prime, £3l 17s 6d to £37 2s 6d; medium, £25 12s 6d to £2B 12s 6d; light, from £2O 2s 6d; prime heifers, £l7 15s to £2l 12s 6d; medium, £l4 17s 6d to £l6 17s 6d; light, from £l3 17s 6d; extra prime cows, to £25 7s 6d; prime. £l6 17s 6d to £2O 12s 6d; medium, £l3 17s 6d to £ls 2s 6d; light, from £lO 2s 6d. FAT SHEEP The offering in the fat sheep section was approximately 2200. the yarding being made up mostly of wethers. Competition was particularly dull in the early stages of the sale, but improved somewhat as the sale progressed. On the average, however, prices were well below last week's extra good sale. The over-fat sheep had poor competition, and were sold at reduced values. Quotations.—Extra quality wethers, to 71s 6d; prime, 62s to 675; medium. 56s to 595; light, from 51s; extra quality ewes, to £2 Is; prime, 35s to 37s 6d; medium. 30s to 325; light, from 275. SPRING LAMB With by no means a large offering of spring lamb, prices in the early stages of the sale showed little alteration from those of last week, but fell away in the latter part of the sale. Best-quality lambs made 74s to 80s and medium 60s to 655. STORE CATTLE There were few quotable lines of store cattle. Two pens of average two-and-a-half to three-year-olds made £l4 12s 6d; one to one-and-a-half-year-olds in back ward condition, £5 17s to £6 17s; best runners, £8 10s to £10; good-quality vealers, £4 18s to £5 10s: and smaller sorts, from £2 10s. FAT PIGS There appeared to be little alteration in the value of baconer pigs, but porkers, which were forward in large numbers, had a decided setback from > late sales. Better-class baconers made £7 12s to £8; medium, £7 to £7 6s; best porkers, £5 6s to £5 18s; and light and medium, from £4 12s. STORE PIGS The demand for store pigs was extremely keen, well-grown weaners making from £3 10s to £3 15s and average sorts from £2 18s.