Satisfactory Sheep Sale At Tekapo

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29763, 5 March 1962, Page 20

Satisfactory Sheep Sale At Tekapo

Selling was not easy at the annual fair at Lake Tekapo on Saturday, but there was a fairly complete clearance of the big yarding of Merino and other fine wool sheep at auction at values which were generally considered to be satisfactory in the light of present circumstances. A factor aiding the sale of these sheep was believed to be the present improved tone of the market for fine wool.

The fair began in fine, mild weather but rain soon set in and well, heavily at times, for most of the day. This sale of high country sheep is considered to be the biggest of its kind in the country and as usual this year attracted buyers from all parts of the South Island. Sheep were purchased for points from Marlborough to Lumsden. Central Otago was one of the most important buying centres. The yarding of 26.485 head of mainly well bred and good condition sheep was well up to the improved standard ! seen at this fair in recent I years. Although the last ' year has not been an easy J one in the Mackenzie, the dis--1 trict has had a better distrii button of rain than much of the lower country in the past summer. There was a good showing of lambs in the yarding, reflecting the improved conditions on many properties these days after the removal of the rabbit and with oversowing and topdressing. and these were, of course, in many cases only the “left overs” from good drafts to the works of prime lambs. The yarding was also notable for a high proportion of big, wellgrown wethers which were said, by some observers, never to have looked better. Before the sale started Mr D. M. Burnett, the chairman of the saleyards company, said that the removal of the rabbits in the last few years had changed the appearance of the sheep and the country and had given heart to all who lived in the area. Sound Sale The day began with the offering of 9650 lambs, and these met a good inquiry at sound rates. The best of the halfbred wether lambs made from 25s to 33s 6d, with average at 15s to 22s 3d. and the tops of the Merinos brought to 335. with average at 15s to 20s. and others at 8s to its. Some English Leicester and Border Leicester cross iambs sold from 23* to 25s 6d Mount John Station had 107 halfbred wether lambs which realised 33s 6d. and a very good sale of 679 Merino wether lambs from the Simons Pass Station was made at 33s A feature of the sale at ewe lambs was the premium paid for Border and English Leites■er cross ewe lambs. The few pens of these on offer fetched mainly from 30s to 42s Halfbred ewe lambs realised from 24s to 325, and Merinos from Us to 16s Ad. The Grampians station headed the section with 128 Border Leicester-Merino cross lombs making 425, and they had another pen of ewe lambs at 3»s. For 127 Border Leicester-Merino lambs Streamlands station also received 41s 6d. and Bollesby station sold 164 haifbred ewe Lambs at 325. In the opinion of some the two-tooth ewes and wethers sold a little disappointingly compared with the lambs. It was felt that they were making little more than the lambs. The yarding of these totalled 5049 head. The best of the Merino twotooth ewes sold up to 42*. with others at 15s 6d to 23s 6d, with halfbreds selling from 37s 6d to 445. and a single pen of Border Leicester cross at 525. The Grampians station again sold 100 Border Leicester cross at 525. Simons Pass station had 278 halfbred ew'es at 445. and Merinos made to 42s for 100 from Haldon station. Halfbred two-tooth wethers ranged from 43s to 45s 6d. with the pick of the Merinos selling to 44s and others at 21s to 325. Maryburn station received 45s 6d for 177 halfbred wethers, and The Wolds sold 32 at 435. while Merinos reached to 44s for 139 from Haldon For the older ewes and wethers. totalling 11,786 head, values were at fairly modest levels, but in comparison with other fairs prices were no lower. There w'as a remarkable sale for a pen of 344 annual draft ewes from Streamlands station. Under strong competition these were knocked down at 42s 6d. with the purchaser electing to take a truck lot. When the balance were put up again another cut was taken out of the ■ine at 20s. and when those still left were auctioned again the price for the same sheep was

Old Ewe Values The best of the older Merino ewes sold to 42s 6d. with good at 24s to 28s and others at 7s to 19s. Average to good halfbreds made from 20s to 28s ad with other* down to Us. Maryburn station aoid 400 annual draft haifbred ewes at 28* 6d. and Simone Hill has 638 at 28s. For a mall selection of 40 mixed aged ewes Mount John received 435. The Streamlands sales at 42s Bd and 29s headed the Merino section, in which Mount Cook station was also paid 28s and 27* 8d for a line of 355

The best of the Merino wethers sold from 30s to 36*. with average to good at 25* to 29* and others at 15s to 20s. The Grampians sold 297 wethers at d . Om»hau station was oaid 32s for 258 five-rear wethTwo and three-ahear Merino wethers from Ben Ohau made 37s 8d for 512. Runholders and buyers were told before the fair by Mr Burnett that the Railways Department had made a special effort to help the sale by ensuring the quickest possible movement of the sheep. He said that he believed sheen from the fair t would be in Blenheim early this < morning. ! Main sales were:— LAMBS I Py»e. Gould, Guinness Ltd., i sold, on account of:— R £ lle * l ? v Station: 336 haifbred wether lambs at 27s 3d. 218 rt 129 e *c lambs at 245, 164 at 325. Maryhill Station: 600 Merino wether lambs at 20s. 46 at Bs. Curraghmore Station: 131 rmxed-sex lambs at 14s. 67s at I Irishman Creek Station: 200 i Merino wether lambs at 14s 6d 12 *' 56 rnlxed ' sex 'stubs ' Gramplans Station: 128 Border Leicester Merino cross ewe **♦ *?«' 42 Mertnd w «’hcr Umbs at 13s. 09 ewe lambs at Glentanner Station: 240 wether Umbo at 10*. 217 ewe M English Lelces”O CFO “ wetheT >« m b» Simons Pass Station: IM wether lamb* at 15s 6d. 379 Menno wether lamb* at 335. 39 mixed-sex Border Leicester cross lambs at 27s 3d. Mount John Station: 100 halfbred wether lambs at 15s 28 mixed-sex at 21s 6d. 107 wether UmbJ 542 ’’«*’*’■

Mary bum Station: 99 haifbred wetter lambs at 19s. 340 at 25*. i Lake Pukaki Inn: 31 ewe (lamb* at 30s.

Bboborough Downs Station: 5S mixed oex Border Leicester cross lambs at 21*. Dalgety and New Zealand Loan, Ltd, sold, on account Omahau Station: 159 Merino wetter lambs at 16s. 133 ewe Umbs at 14*. Simons Hill Station: 196 halfbred wether lambs at 36*. National Mortgage and Agency Company. Ltd., sold, on account •f:Streamlands Station: 127 Border Leicester-Merino cross •We lambs at 41s 6d. Haldon Station: 124 Merino wetter lambs at 17* 6d. 133 ewe lambs at 16s 6d. Guide Hill Station: 143 halfbred wether lambs at 22s 3d Canterbury Farmers’ Cooperative Association, sold, on account of:— Mount Dalgety Station: M wetter lambs at 15* 6d. 87 eve lambs at 13s, 145 Border cro-s wether lambs at 25* 6d. 165 Border croa* ewe lambs at 24s Tasman Downs Station: 244 wether lambs at 20s. 42 at Us Gletunore: 86 Merino ewe lambs at Ils. 91 Merino wetter lambs at 9s 6d. Wright Stephenson and Company, sold, on account of:— Holbrook Station: 222 wetlvr lambs at 245. 267 ewe lamb* at 81s 6d. Two-looth Ewes and Wethers National Mortgage and Agency Company of NJJ, Ltd , sold on account of: Haldon Sutton: 100 Merino ewes at 42a. 139 wetter* at 445. Bendrose Station: 50 wethers at 335. 49 at 25* 6d. ML Hay Station: 54 Menno ewes at 19s, 128 wether* at 295. Streamlands: 102 two and four-tooth ewes at 38$ 6d. Pyne. Gould. Guinness Ltd. sold on account of: Maryburn Station: 207 halfbred ewes at 42s 6d. 117 halfbred wethers at 45* 6d. Maryhill Station: 78 Merino wether* at 325. 296 ewe* at 22s 6d The Wolds: 32 haifbred wether* at 435. 279 ewes at 37s 6d. Grampians Station: 100 Border Leicester cross ewe* at 535. 170 Merino wether* at 2S*. ..Glentanner Station: 379 Merino wethers at 27*. 109 ewes at 15s 6d. 210 ewe* at 23* 6d. Mt. John Station: 125 halfbred ewes at 42*. Irishman Creek Station; 248 Merino ewe* at 19* 6d. Canterbury Farmers* Co-op-erative Association sold on account of: Glenmore Station: 293 wether* at 28s 6d. T. P. A. Blunt. Fairlie: 101 ewes at t6s 6d. Dalgety and New Zealand Loan. Ltd., sold on account ot: Simons Hill Station: 278 hallbred ewes at 445. Wright. Stephenson and Company sold on account of: Richmond Station: 81 Merino wethers at 21*. Older Ewe* and Wethers Pyne. Gould, Guinness Ltd., sold on account of: The Walds Station: 7! two. three and four-shear ewe* *t 18* 6d, 83 annual draft ewes at 11* 6d, 354 at 235. Grampians Station: 297 annual drait wethers at 36*. 576 annual draft ewe* at 80s. Glentanner Station: 400 annual draft Merino wether* at 86*. Maryhill Station: 150 annual draft Menno eWes at 7s. Rollesby Station: 236 annual drait ewes at 25* 6d. Mt. John Station: 40 mixed - age ewe* at 43». 300 haifbred ewes at 20s. Maryburn Station: 490 annual draft haifbred ewe* at 28* 6d. Dalgety and New Zealand Loan, Ltd., sold on account of : Ben Ohau Station: 512 two and three-shear Merino wethers at 37s 6d, 145 five-year Menno ewes at 15*. 353 ewes at 6* to 7s. Omahau Station: 258 five-year Merino wethers *1 32*. 280 Merino ewes at 14*. 68 fourtooth Merino ewes at 28*. Simons Hill Station: 638 halfbred ewes at 28s. National Mortgage and Agency Company, Ltd., sold on account of:— Lilybank Station: 85 annual draft wetter* at 15*. 40 ewes at 9s. Bendrose Station: 259 annual draft Merino wether* at 80* 6d Grays Hill Station: 794 annual draft Merino wethers at 31s 6d. 300 annual draft ewes at 18*. 203 ewes at 18*. Mt. Cook Station: 355 Merino ewes at 27s 8d to 26* Balmoral Station: 424 fotirBear8 ear Merino wetter* at 28s. 250 wether* at 395., 179 st Mt. Hay Station: 155 annual draft ewes at 12* 6d. Streamlands Station: 344 annual draft Merino ewes at 24s to 42s 6d. Wright, Stephenson and Company, Ltd., sold on account of:— Ruataniwa Station: 345 annual draft Menno wetter* at as*. Holbrook Station: 338 haifbred ewes at 255. Richmond Station: 207 annual draft Merino wether* at 25s 6d Canterbury Farmer*' Cooperative Association, sold on account of:— Mt. Dalgety Station: 125 annual draft wethers at 2«s 194 ewe* at 10*. 386 five-vear ears at 17*.

Glenrock Station: 85 annua Merino wether* at 17s 100 Merino ewes at 10* to 11*.