Summary

Printed notebook dated 30 Dec 1980 - 17 Jun 1981, 100 pages. Used by Mr Alan Langley to notate livestock buys for Charles David P/L - abattoirs/meat operator in NSW. Stock purchased at the Newmarket Saleyards would be sent live via rail to Gosford NSW.

Each page printed with 6 columns under the headings:
Yard No: indicates yard where stock was purchased
Stock No: number of head purchased
Stock Description: type of stock purchased eg. St = steers; Ylg = yearling; Ox = ox; Blk = bullock
Price: paid per kilo liveweight
Weight/Skin: where the markings were placed on the purchased animals eg: S=shoulder; L=loin; T=tail; NM=no mark; also indicates docket numbers that were stapled to side of pen
Agent: Agents that sold the stock eg. Est = Australian Estates; Logan = TShaw Logan; G & N = Gippsland & Northern; FR = Fisken Read; DAL = Dalgety

Markets represented in book: Leongatha, Maitland, Gloucester, Singleton, Waratah, Scone, Wagga, Newmarket, Grafton, Homebush; and has consistent entry dates over a 6 month period every couple of days.

The notebook highlights markets that were utilised by the buyer within the specified period of time and has further implications regarding the travelling requirements of a livestock buyer.

Physical Description

Pocket sized notebook, perforated along top, printed in columns, red binding, cardboard cover with handwritting on front and back, calculations on back cover, front cover series of names in red and blue ink.

Significance

This item provides an insight into the work of a livestock buyer over a 6 month period; it highlights the geographical spread of livestock markets and demonstrates the travelling requirements of a livestock buyer. The booklet also provides information about: travelling to purchase stock from multiple markets across a wide geographic spread from NSW and Victoria; the context of the Newmarket Saleyards in relation to other Australian livestock markets; how stock are bought and sold eg. price etc.; industry language, jargon and colloquialisms; and is a perfect example of portable "office in a pocket" pre-computing working life.

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