Romneys Sell Well At Flock Ram Fair

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29744, 10 February 1962, Page 17

Romneys Sell Well At Flock Ram Fair

fl i- Romn fy r ams sold relatively well when the Canterbury nock ram fair was resumed at Addington Show Grounds yesterday. Around 70 per cent, of the offering found buyers under the hammer and prices were only about 13 per cent, lower than last year.

Corriedales on the other hand met a lifeless sale, with interest at a fairly low ebb and passings heavy. Less than half of the sheep forward were sold at auction but for those sold the decline, in values on last year amounted to only 16 per cent., which in view of the tone of the market could well have been worse.

Corriedales and Romneys p-edomunated in the offering lor the day which totalled 1223 rams, of which 1054 were brought into the selling rings and 582 were sold. Last year 652 rams were sold out of 1125 offered. Top price of the day was 80 guineas paid to F. H. Chittock, of Lincoln, who sold five Romneys at 50 guineas or better. Corriedales sold to 33 guineas for a pen of five from P. N. Martin, of Ashburton, which were bought for Central Otago. A Lincoln from W. M. Bishell and Son < Blenheim) was taken by a South Canterbury buyer at 40 guineas. Romney Marsh While averages on most of the top sheep were lower there was a very good demand for Romney Marsh rams and this was sustained fairly well throughout. Quality was generally good and there was a bid forthcoming for nearly every pen offered. Out of 463 rams offered 316 were sold under the hammer at an average price of about 22gns. compared with 25 l-3gns for 304 out of 527 offered last year. The previous year the average for the 351 rams sold was only 12gns. The sale opened on a sound note and for some time it looked as though last year’s average would be maintained, but buyers seemed to resist bidding above 50gns for all except the very best and this tended to dampen the competition on the top sheep. Only in the latter stages of the second run did there appear to be anv slackening in inquiry, but the average for the second run bettered that for the first offerings. Top price was 80gns. which was paid for a ram from the Rose stud of F. H. Chittock. of Lincoln. The ram was bought by J. H. E. Taylor, of Kekerangu, who also bought a Rose ram at 70gns and two at SOgns. For his team of 23 rams, which were all sold. Mr Chittock received an average of nearly 34gns. He sold one at SOgns, one at 70gns. three at 50gns and one at 42Jgns, with the rest from 22Jgns. Last year his average for 21 sold out of 30 was nearly 44gns. Including two at 85gns. D. H. Robertson, of the Merry-

downs stud. Gore, made the top average of 43<gns for 16. This included one at 55gns. four at SOgns and five at 45gns, with the rest making from 30gns. Last year the estate D. Robertson’s Merryvale stud team of rams averaged nearly 50gns for 27 out of 31 offered and Included the top price of 150gns. W. Gregory. Ashburton, had a sale at 60gns and averaged just over 30}gns for four. Ivan Oakley. Ashburton, averaged 35gns for four with a sale at 55gns. Raymond Oakley. Ashburton, averaged 28Jgns for 27 rams, with a top sale at 52}gns. Last year his average was 283 ns for 24. R. W. Oakley. Ashburton, sold 12 at an average of 35}gns, compared with 27.7gns for 10 last year, and his top price was 50gns with six at 45gns.

C. R. Humphries, Gore, also Improved his average to nearly coigns for 16, compared with 28jgns for 13 last year. F. J. Humphries. Gore, sold 20 to average just under 19Jgns, compared with nearly 27gns for 17 last year. O. J. Osborne. Irwell. averaged nearly 24gns with 13 out of his offering of 17.

The estate E. S. Taylor, Ravenswood. Woodend, fielded a large team of 41 rams which sold readily to average nearly 22gns. compared with just under 23Jgns for 31 last year. The best Romneys made from SOgns to SOgns. with good at 30gns to 45gns, average 12Jgns to 27Jgns. and others at 7gns to llgns.

Although the upset price was reduced this year to 6gns from lOgns last year, there were only 22 rams sold below lOgns and no bids were claimed at the upt.et price. At the other end of the scale there were 14 rams which made 50gns or better. In the first run 199 rams sold out of an offering of 284 which averaged 21 4 g ns. compared with 129 out of 273 averaging 24.8gns last year. In the second run 117 out of 179 offered averaged l u Jt over 23Jgns. compared with 106 out of 176 last year. In a third run last year 69 out of 124 averaged 23.5gn5.

Corriedales Tie Corriedale sale was followed by only a moderate sized gallery, and interest was at a comparatively low ebb throughout. Even the better known breeders had frequently to pass their rams or accept very modest rates indeed. Only once or twice during the sale was there any keenness in the competition.

Of the entry of 648. of which 558 rams came forward. 259 or some 46 per cent, found buyers under the hammer. For those sold the average was just over 13gns. which was about 2jgns or about 16 per cent, lower t ian at the last sale. Considering the generally depressed tone of the sale it seemed that tie average might have been worse.

There was little variation in the tenor of the sale from start to finish. In the first run 159 rams averaged 131 g ns. and in tiie second 100 averaged 132 ns. Compared with last year, when 104 rams sold at 20gns or better, only 41 were in this category yesterday. The best of the offering realised from 22 to 33gns. with good at 14 to 20gns, and average at six to llgns. P. N. Martin, of Ashburton, headed the sale with a pen of five purchased by R. Johnson (Roxburgh) at 33gns. Next came W. R. E. Booker (Hawarden k selling five at 28|gns, and F- C. Ridgen (Greendale) had two which brought 28gns. „ Fm* his small selection of nine w. R. E. Booker averaged 27gns, with sales at 25 and 281gns, and for 15 P. N. Martin averaged 22 l-3gn«, with sales ranging from 15 to 33gns. A. M. Saunders (Ashburton), with sales at 15 to 20gns, averaged 17jsns for 14. compared with 19Jgns for eight last year. Robert Robinson. (Ashburton) sold 24 at an average of 16 l-3gns, with values ranging from 11 to 26gns. Last year he sold 12 rams at an average of 19gns. F. C. Ridgen, who had a big team forward, actually improved on his average at auction last year, selling 37 at an average of 16gns yesterday, compared with 26 at 152gns a year ago. He sold rams yester-

day from nine to 28gns, with 13 at 20gns or better For 12 ranging from nine to IBgns A. H. Kennington (Seddon) averaged 13 l-3gns, and A. E. Cross and Company (Ben-netts-Horrelvillei averaeed 11 l-3gns for 30 selling at seven to 15gns. Last year this vendor had 65 which averaged nearly 22gns each.

TTie estate James Reid. Ltd. (Darfield). had a big team forward. and though the estate did not have such a good sale as last year it met the market m nearly every case, selling 49 at an average of lOJgns. compared with 43 selling last year at 23lgns. Its rams sold from nine to 16gns.

D. S. Studholme (Coldstream), wfto averaged 13jgns last year for 18. sold 28 yesterday at Signs average, with prices from six to llgns.

Twenty-six halfbred rams were brought into the ring, but only five were sold, and these were all from T. L. Jenkins (Sheffield). They realised 14gns each. Last year the 19 halfbreds sold averaged 7Jgns each.

Seven Lincolns came forward, all from W. M. Bishell and Son (Blenheim). As was the case last year only two were sold at auction. One which made 40gns—the highest price recordedl in the “A" selling ring for the day—was bought by B. Cornelius (Waimate). The other ram made 12gns. Last year they sold at 271 and llgns.