Flock Rams Again Sell At Better Average Rates

Press, Volume C, Issue 29436, 11 February 1961, Page 7

Flock Rams Again Sell At Better Average Rates

When the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association’s flock ram fair was continued at Addington Show Grounds yesterday Romney rams sold at values which on average were double those paid last year, and the average level of values of Corriedales was 37 per cent higher than a year ago. In both sections the number of rams purchased were similar to last year though entries were much smaller.

Rams catalogued for sale yesterday totalled 1378 compared with 1929 last year. Numbers actually brought forward for sale totalled 1125 of which 652 found buyers at auction, indicating that the supply was still well in excess of the demand and this was particularly noticeable in the Romney section. where there was a tailing off for all classes towards the close. However, in the Corriedale section the tendency was for the sale to improve as it progressed. Romney Sale Romneys met a much more ready sale this year and competition was stronger for the best of the offering. The average price was more than double that of last year While 39 bids were claimed at the upset price of 7gns last year there were only two pens sold in this way yesterday, when the upset price was higher at lOgns. The average price paid for the 304 rarfis sold out of 527 offered was 25 l-3rd gns compared with 12gns last year for 351 sold out of 853 offered. The previous year the average price was 17gns

While the well-known established studs enjoyed generally good clearances and higher averages there was limited inquiry for the lesser lines. The market was. however, oversupplied with good rams and this was shown by the dwindling gallery in the later stages of the sale when top quality rams were still coming forward. Passings of sheep which had actually attracted bids increased at the end and the level of values declined on opening rates.

The market was topped by the estate D Robertson, of the Merrvvale stud. Gore, at 150gns which was paid for a single ram by Pvne. Gould Guinness Ltd., on behalf of J Tutton. The Merry-

vale rams a’so made the best average of the day and 27 of them out of the team of 31 offered in the ring averaged a shade under 50gns at auction This included sales at 671gns for two and 60gns for one. and the estate so’d 14 rams at more than 50gns. The top price last year was gained by a Merry vale pen of two at 524gns. and the estate average last year was just under 38ens for 13 out of 28 offered

The Rose stud of F. H. Chittock. Lincoln, was also well to the fore and sold the top pen of two rams at 85gns. which was bought by Pvne. Gould. Guinness Ltd., as agents for G. H. Dalglish Le Sons Bay. The Rose- team of 30 found buvrrs fnr 21 at auction at an average price of nearly 4*gns. compared with nearly 24« ms for 25 last year

C R Humphries. Gore, averaged just over 28Jgns for 13. compared with 26 averaging 16gns )a«t year Raymond Oakley. Ash-

burton, sold 24 to average 28gns R. W. Oakley. Ashburton, gained an average of 211 gns with 10 rams.

F. J Humphries. Gore, sold 17 to average nearly 27gns. and R J Low and Sons. Rakaia. averaged 25gns for 12. The estate E. S Taylor. Woodend sold 31 at an average of just under 23a gns. compared with 17|gns'for nine last year and 18£gns for 20 the year before. H. G Pinckney. Invercargill, averaged 21gns for the 21 rams sold at auction.

Throughout the sale there were eight pens sold at 50gns or better, involving 16 rams. The bulk of the sales of good rams ranged between 23gns and 40gns. with the best from 47$gns to 150gns. average from 14gns to 22gns and others from lOgns upwards. Last year only the best were making above 22Jg:is.

In the first run 223 rams were offered and 129 were sold at an average of 24.8gns; of 176 offered in the second run 106 were sold to average 26.9gn5; and of the 124 rams to come into the ring in the third run 69 were sold at an average price of 23.5gn5. Last year 237 out of 527 offered were sold in the first run at an average of just under HJgns and the second run included 131 rams, of which 114 were sold to average just over 12Jgns. Corriedales The average level of values for Corriedale rams was 37 per cent, higher than at last year’s fair. The 320 sold yesterday averaged IsJgns. which was about 44gns better than a year ago Total purchases of rams yesterday were almost exactly the same as at the last fair and represented some 60 per cent, of the total number of rams which came before buyers, compared with only 45 per cent, of last year’s larger offering.

The sale opened on a rather slack note with frequent passings and values at modest levels, but as it progressed there was a distinct strengthening in demand and firming in values. Over the first run 176 rams sold averaged a shade under 15gns. but in the second run the average of 144 was up to 17gns.

Last year only 38 rams reached 20gns or more, but yesterday 104 sold at this level or better. The top rams in the selection ranged from 26gns to 37Jgns. with one sale at 45gns. good made from 17gns to 25gns. average from 12gns to 16gns and the balance from the upset price of 7gns. The market was topped this year by the estate James Reid. Ltd., of Darfield. with a single which went to Glazebrook (Te Piritai at 45gns. The estate had a relatively successful day. also tooning the sale of pens of five with a selection which went to Mrs G H Lamb (Valetta) at 37 : .gns each. Fnr 43 rams the estate averaged 23! gns. compared with only lOgns for 64 at last year’s fair.

Rams from A E. Cross and Company (Horrelvillei also commanded a uniformly sound market with 65 ranging from 17 to 27jgns averaging nearly 22gns. With one selling to 32£gns Robert Robinson < Ashburton > averaged 19gns for 12, but in this case his average was two guineas under his result for seven sold at last year’s fair. A M. Saunders < Ashburton), who headed last year's sale at lOOgns. sold eight yesterday at an average of 19}gns with his highest price 25gns for three. F. C. Ridgen (Greendale) improved on his result last year with 26 selling at an average of 15Jgns compared with 13gns for 32 at the last sale. D. S. Stud holme (Coldstream) sold 18 at an average return of Other Breeds Nineteen halfbred rams out of the 45 brought into the ring found buyers at prices ranging from 7gns to 9gns. with an average for the sale of The top price of 9gns was paid to T. L. Jenkins (Sheffield) for five. Last year out of an entry of 16. 10 halfbred rams averaged 9gns. Seven out of nine Merino rams offered on account of Mrs A. P. Bennett (Swannanoa) realised from Igns to Bgns and averaged slightly under Bgns. No rams of this breed were catalogued last year. Two out of the five Lincclns brought into the ring were sold at 27Jgns and llgns. All of the sheep were from W. M.. Bishell (Blenheim), and the top priced sheep went to R. P. Steele (Waiau). A year ago only one Lincoln was sold at auction at lOgns. Details of entries for yesterdy’s sale, with last year's figures in parenthesis, were: Lincolns. 5 (6i: Corriedales. 658 (784): Merinos. 9 <0); halfbreds. 46 (30): Romneys. 660 (1109).