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Salford Cattle Market. [Jan., 



SALFORD CATTLE MARKET. 

 Joseph Clarke. 



The Salford Corporation Cattle Market is one of the largest cattle 

 markets in the country. It covers ioj acres of land, and contains 300 

 cattle and i,ioo sheep pens, sheds for 300 calves and 120 pigs, together 

 with lairage accommodation for 800 cattle and 1,000 sheep. There is 

 pen accommodation in the market for 3,500 cattle and 18,000 sheep. 



The number of animals brought to the market is not, however, quite 

 so large as was formerly the case. In 1 880-1, for instance, 170,652 

 cattle and 612,785 sheep were shown, whereas in 1906-7 the numbers 

 were 100,762 cattle and 508,193 sheep. These figures, however, exceed 

 those of any other market in the United Kingdom, London not excepted. 



Facilities of Transport. — Salford Market is well situated so far as 

 the moving of animals to and from the market is concerned, being 

 served by two of the largest live-stock stations in Great Britain, namely, 

 Cross Lane Station on the London and North-Western Railway, and 

 Windsor Bridge on the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, both of 

 which are situated within 300 yards of the exits to the market. At 

 Cross Lane Station it is possible to deal with 150 trucks for either 

 discharging or loading simultaneously. At this station stock is dealt 

 with coming from all parts of Scotland, Ireland, North Wales, the 

 Southern and Eastern Counties, by the North-Western Railway ; from 

 Shropshire and Herefordshire and the West of England by the London 

 and North-Western Railway and the Great Western Railway, and from 

 the Eastern Counties and Lincolnshire by the Great Central Railway. 



At Windsor Bridge there is accommodation for dealing with 140 

 trucks. This station is a convenient landing place for animals from 

 the large feeding districts of Yorkshire, and also for stock coming from 

 Ireland, vid Fleetwood and Liverpool. It is used also for all stock 

 passing from Scotland and the Eastern Counties by the Midland 

 Railway, 



As an illustration of the manner in which the market is served by 

 the respective companies, it may be stated that it is possible to despatch 

 animals from the Isle of Wight or from the interior of Ireland on the 

 Monday, and have them delivered in time for business in the market on 

 Tuesday. This is a very important point for butchers, as it enables 

 them to purchase sheep and lambs in the very best condition off their 

 home pastures. The Cheshire lines have also unloading accommodation 

 at their Cornbrook sidings, which deal with stock from the Cheshire 

 district generally, and there is also a direct service of boats between 

 Dublin and Manchester by the Ship Canal. 



Breeds and Weights of Cattle and Sheep. — About two-thirds of the 

 cattle are Irish grass fed, ranging in weight from 26 to 36 scores. The 

 most useful weight, and that in most demand by the butchers, is from 

 28 to 30 scores dead weight. Heavier weights than the above do not 

 find a ready trade. 



Irish cattle having a good percentage of lean meat are in request 

 for the large manufacturing towns of Lancashire, where the popula- 

 tions, being chiefly employed in cotton or engineering works, or in the 

 collieries, prefer lean meat rather than fat. 



