COMMERCIAL.

Western Star, 23 April 1920, Page 3

COMMERCIAL.

WALLACETOWN STOCK SALE. The firat of the fortnightly sales was held in the Wallacatowu yards! on Tuesday, when a small yarding came under the hammer. The attendance of buyers was also small and the sale was patehy.

Fat Cattle. —The fat cattle offered did not include any prime quality stock, the yarding with a few exceptions requiring finishing. The sale opened lifeless, and did not recover, prices showing a decline on the previous sale. Well-finished medium-weight bullocks sold at from £lB to £l9 12/6; good mediums from £l4 to £l7 10/-; light and unfinished, £9 2/6 to £l3 12/6. Only a small entry of cow and heifer beef was forward, end prices for the former ranged from £8 15/- to £ll 10/-, and for the latter £8 to £ll 15/-. Vealore sold at from £2 10/--to £4 10/-. Store Cattle.—-The only demand in t stores was for calves, which sold at from 25]- to 45/-. The dairy cows and heifers auctioned were of poor quality, and prices were in accordance with the yarding. Cows ranged from £8 upwards, and heifers from £6 upwards. Fat Sheep.—The only market to show any life, and competition was keen for the lines offered. An advance was noticeable in wethers of about 3]- per head, while good fat ewes met with a good demand. Prime wethers 40/4, lighter sorts 30/- to 38/-, prime ewes 43/6, good heavies 27/- to 31/6. Fat lambs in small butchers’ lots, sold fronl 22/9 to 30/3. Store Sheep. —The demand was poor and prices were on a par with those ruling at recent sales.

BURNSIDE STOCK MARKET

There were largo yardings in all fat stock departments at Burnside to-day. In the case of sheep; the quality was very poor. Prices on the whole showed a weakening tendency, which was in large measure attributable to the fact that the local freezing works are overstocked. Fat Cattle.—2so were yarded, the quality being fair. The demand at the commencement of. the sale was moderate, but before the close of the gale prices had receded) fully 20/- per head. Prime bullocks made from £l9 to £24; medium, £l6 to £18; light and unfinished 'from £l2 10/-; prime heifers from £l4 to £l7 10/-; medium from £lO 10/- to 1 £IS; light from £8 10/-. Store Cattle.—There was a much reduced yarding of rather poor quality. Cows suitable for canning purposes were quite neglected. Bulls and young cattle also lacked buyers’ attention. The only class which (maintained late rates were- well-grown steers in good forward condition. Sheep.—There was a large yarding of 4118, the bulk of which was of poor quality, very few prime sheep being forward. For all prime quality wethers and ewes copetition was good at an, advance of 1/- per head, while inferior and; unfinished were neglected and showed a decline of 2/- to 3/- per head compared with last week’s rates. Extra prime heavyweight wethers brought 50/3 to 52/9; prime, 42/6 to 48/6; medium, 37/- to 41/-; light and unfinished from 30/- up; a few specially selected heavy-weight ewes brought 48/- to 53/-; prime, 36/6 to 41/9; medium, 31/- to 35/-; light and aged from 23/- up. Fat Lambs,—ll69 were offered;, a good yarding of. fair quality. Owing ■ to the local freezing works being con- 1 gested, freezing buyers were not been operators, in consequence of which the sale was of a dragging nature and prices receded fully 2/6 per head on late rates. Values ranged from; 16/to 30/- per head. Pigs.—Only a medium number were penned, and prices were again easier. Baconera made from 9d to 10 J- lor best, and porkers from 91d to lid per lb.