SHEFFIELD EWE FAIR

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25445, 17 March 1948, Page 3

SHEFFIELD EWE FAIR

SOUND DEMAND EVIDENT

PRICES IMPROVE ON RECENT SALES

Prices lor all types ot ewes were better at Sheffield yesterday than they have been at recent fixtures, and aged fine-woolled ewes in moderate to low condition were dearer than they have been since before the Culverden lair. Open-woolled twot°S‘eS ”'5v W y?sterday was 7832. against 9500 last year, and included tooths. As usual, the main interest in the sale was in the high-country run sheep from up the Waimakanri Gorge, but there was also a good representation of sheep from the Plains properties of the district. Most of the ewes were halfbreds or Comedales, but a good showing of openwoolled sheep was entered. The district has had a very dry summer this season, and the shortage of food was apparent in the condition of the ewes, which \Vere not as good in this respect as they were last year. The station lines were nevertheless in fair order, and were of the usual sound quality. Bidding on the two-tooths, particularly on open-woolled ewes, was good -torn the beginning of the sale, and the limited entry changed hands at prices three to four shillings above recent sales, and in cases more. An excellent local demand was asisted by a West Coast buyer for the Romney and Romney-cross ewes. Prices were about 2s a head above those of the sale last year. For the older fine-woolled ewes, bidding was steady at prices fully up to those of recent sales, and 2s above those at Culverden, where comparable sheep are offered. Considering the moderate -quality and condition of the entry, the sale was excellent. Buyers were mainly local farmers, and were not as insistent on condition as they have been at earlier fairs. Top price for two-tooth was 435, paid for a good line of 90 Romneys from R. A. Palmer (Annat). This sale was several shillings above prices for comparable ewes at Tinwald on Monday. The same vendor topped last year’s fair at 3fs. B. O’Shaughnessy (Springfield) sold an excellent pen of 70 Romneys at 425. Top fine-wool price was 39s for a small pen of 24 first-cross halfbreds from L. D. Adams (Sheffield). The best four-year price was again secured by F. M. Robinson (Benmore), who sold the top cut of his annual draft of 302 Corriedales at 335. The rest of the line made 325, and another line of 203 made 295. Top price last year was 335. R. A. Palmer sold a line of 159 Romney cross at 325, and R. M. D. Johnson (Mount Torlesse), whose sheep were equal top last year, sold 174 at SOs 6d. The first run off of a line of 332 ewes from W. H. Faulkner (Kowai Bush) and the first cut from a line of 400 Mount Torlesse ewes topped the five-year section at 265. The rest of W. H. Faulkner’s ewes made 25s 6d, and the rest of the Mount Torlesse ewes 255. Mount Torlesse ewes, topped the five-year section last year at 275. A line of 245 from McLeod and Orbell (Grassmere) made 255. The range of prices, compared with that o£ last year, was as follows: Wo-fooths— 1947. 1948. s. s. s. s. i Good .. 32 to 37 35 to 43 Ordinary .. 28J to 31J 30 to 34 Others .. 22 to 27 17 to 28 ; Four-year— Good .. 26 to 33 28 to 33 Ordinary .. 21J to 25 21 to 23 - Others .. to 18 J to, 161 ; I Five-year-r- -! Good .. 21 to 27 21 to 26 ; others .. 104 to 19 15 to 184

Dalgety and Company, Ltd., sold on account of: — Estate I. O. Buchanan (Highpeak): 78 •two-tooth at 335, ?9 two-tooth at 28s, 32 two-tooth at 28s. R. M. D. Johnson (Mount Torlesse): 73 two-tooth at 355,. 45 two-tooth at 30s. R. A. Palmer (Annat): 72 two-tooth at 435, 159 four-year at 325. Estate A. Deans (Morven): 60 twotooth at 26s 6d. J. Searle (Annat): 59 two-tooth at 38s, 11 two-tooth at 265, 18 two-tooth at 345. B. O’Shaughnessy (Springfield): 71 two-tooth at 425. F. M. Robinson (Benmore): 302 fouryear at 32s to 335, 203 four-year at 295. McLeod and Orbell (Grassmere): 245 five-year at 255, 94 five-year at 18s 6d. Mrs M. A. Parkin (Russell’s Flat): 65 four and five-year at 225. W. Deans (Sandown): 224 four-year at 235. W. H. Faulkner (Kowai Bush): 332 fiveyear at 25s 6d to 265, 44 five-year at 17s 6d. National Mortgage and Agency Company Ltd., Sold on account of:— L. P. Robinson (Springfield): 70 twotooth at 385,. 70 two-tooth at 355. Estate A. F. Smith (Wyndale): 128 fouryear at 30s, 146 four-year at 27s 6d, 38 four-year at 16s 6d. Pyne, Gould, Guinness Ltd., sold on account of:— A. Collins (Shand’s Track): 178 twotooth at 21s.' " fits/.'?: Reed Bros. (Dalethorpe): 96 two-tooth at 345, 136 two-tooth at 335, 71 two-tooth at 27s 6d. L. D. Adams (Sheffield): 24 two-tooth at 395, 36 five-year at 21s. D. Deans (Rowallan): 67 two-tooth at 335. » Milliken Bros. (Springfield): 38 twotooth at 17s, 80 two-tooth at 245, 557 four-year at 28s, 205 four-year at 21s. R. M. D. Johnson (Mount Torlesse): 174 four-year at 30s 6d, 400 five-year at 25s to 265, 145 five-year at 18s 6d. Milliken’s Estate (Brooksdale): 212 four-year at 24s to 24s 6d, 73 f.m. at Ils 3d, 82 four and five-year at 15s, 52 fiveyear at 15s. r H. Matson and Company sold on account of:— Highpeak Station: 548 four-year at 235, 218 five-year at 245.