Tone At Coalgate Ewe Fair Better

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30389, 13 March 1964, Page 18

Tone At Coalgate Ewe Fair Better

Coming immediately after the good rains which have fallen this week there was a better tone about the Coalgate ewe fair yesterday. Values for all classes of ewes were better than at the last fair at Sheffield last week, but they did not show any meteoric rise.

Sales were generally easier to make and the fair could be regarded as a very sound one. Lambs, of which there was a sizeable offering, sold particularly well and were one of the strong points of the fair.

The Coalgate fair is normally the last of the round of Mid-Canterbury and North Canterbury fairs, but this year an extra fixture has been added to the circuit—a fine-wool sale due to be held at Ashburton next Thursday, The final Coalgate fair has on previous occasions benefited from drought-relieving autumn rains and this year was no exception. Farmers attended the sale in good numbers and one of the main topics of conversation was falls of rain of an inch and more and reports of pastures already responding to the moisture.

With an early sale right at the start of the round, Coalgate vendors are now particularly well served as even in drought seasons the early fairs are often reasonably sound in the face of the first flush of buying. Sheep were purchased for widely spread destinations and one of the main buying centres was Mid-Canterbury. Sheep also went to Kirwee, Darfield, Oxford, Rangiora, Southbridge and up to the Weka Pass. The offering totalled 10,861 head compared with 11,148 last year and Included 2046 lambs (2280 last year). 2933 two-tooth ewes (2137), 5360 older ewes (<265). and 522 wethers (80).

Two-tooth Ewes While there were some wellgrown and good condition sheep among the two-tooths, there was also a fairly considerable representation of sheep on the smaller side and considering this, the sale for the younger ewes could be regarded as a good one. Whereas at Sheffield a little more than a week ago a sample of sheep sold at values on average no better than last year, the better tone of yesterday’s sale was confirmed by 14 pens realising 7s more on average than the same number of pens of the the same farmers’ sheep sold a year ago. The best of the fine wool twotooth ewes made from 83s to 965. with good at 70s to 78s, average at 60s to 67s and small at 50s to 55s 6d. The pick of the Romneys or Romney cross brought from 83s to 925, good made from 70s to 78s, average 60s to 67s and small 54s to 58s. At these levels values looked to be upwards of 10s better than last year when prices were about 13s in advance of the 1962 fair.

C. C. Thorne (Spotswood) once more topped the twotooth ewe market. He had a series of good sales with 93 Corriedales at 96s and 75 at 95s and two more sales of pen lots at 85s and 80s. Last year his best sale was at 82s. G. H. Grigg (Haldon Pastures) who received up to 74s last year had two sales yesterday of 64 Corriedales at 84s and 63 at 83s. Halfbreds realised to 79s for 78 from Murchison Bros. (Lake Coleridge). Romney or Romney cross twotooths made to 92s for 41 Romney cross from J. G. Cran (Highlands). Another 55 from the same vendor brought 91s and 64 made 87s 6d. A handful of sheep from E. L. Rice (Hororata) also realised 81s. Mi's E. M. Gray (Gunyah) also received 79s for 90. Last year Gunyah Romneys sold up to 775. The market for older ewes also represented some improvement on Sheffield values for particularly the better class of sheep and sales were easier to make. At Sheffield last week a selection of both four-year-olds and five-year-olds averaged prices which were lower than a year ago for similar sheep, but yesterday eight pens of four-year-olds were about 2s higher than a similar cut of sheep of the same age group sold last year, and for six pens of five-year-olds the average was 5s 6d better than a year ago.

There was a notable sale of four-year-old Corriedales from C. G. Robinson (Moreton Marsh) at 70s. There were 201 in this line and several spectators commented on the size and excellent condit-on of these sheep. But while these top four-year-olds were well in advance of Sheffield values the average to good class sold at similar levels to last week to slightly better. The best of the fine wool four-year-olds realised from 60s to 70s with good at 50s to 575, others at 45s to 46s and shorn Romneys at 40s to 51s. Apart from Mr Robinson's market-topping Corriedales, E. H. Sime (Grasslands) had 150 of the same breed at 63s 6d and another 70 at 575. Last year Mr Sime realised to 575. Shorn Romneys from R. G. Deans (Homebush) realised to 51s for 222. Better Sale Five-year-old fine wool ewes met a better sale than at Sheffield with tile best bringing from 48s to 525. average to good 40s to 47s and others to 38s. Romneys sold at 54s with shorn Romneys at 34s 6d to 42s 6d. Wills and Le Cren (Snowdon) realised 54s for 178. Last year they were paid up to 445. R. G. Deans (Homebush) also had 189 shorn Romneys at 42s 6d. One of the best sales of fine wool sheep was made by G. H. Grigg (Haldon Pastures) who was paid 52s for 83 Corriedales. This was 10s better than what he was paid up to a year ago. The offering also Included several pens of annual draft Merino ewes which brought from 21s to 35s 6d, with the upper figure being realised by Mt. Algidus station for 150. Most of the Merino ewes sold from about 29s upwards. Merino wethers from the station sold from 52s to 53s 6d. Compared with the ewes the sale for lambs was a particularly good one. The best of the Romney ewe lambs sold from 60s to 73s with others at 43s 6d to 58s 6d. Rockwood Farm. Ltd (Hororata), topped the sale with 150 Romneys at 735. which was 12s up on their best money last year. Wether lambs in the wool sold from about 30s up to 50s. and shorn wether lambs sold particularly well from 31s to 425. The following is a range if values, with figures for last vear given for comparison:— 1964 1963

were:— TWO-TOOTH EWES Pyne, Gould, Guinness Ltd., sold on account of: F. D. H. Gray. Hororata: 70 Romneys at 775. Westbank Farm, Ltd. Te Pirita: 73 halfbreds at 745.

Mrs E. M. Gray. Gunyah: 39 Romneys at 625. 102 Romneys at 775. 90 Romneys at 795. E. H. Sime. Grasslands: 159 Corriedales at 50s. G. H. Grigg, Haldon Pastures: 63 Corriedales at 83s, 64 Corriedales at 84s. T. Abbott, Brackendale: 53 at 675. W. L. Nell. Middlerock: 75 halfbreds at 735. 15 halfbreds at 61s. C. C. Thorne. Spotswood: 86 Corriedales at 85s, 67 Corriedales at 80s. 93 Corriedales at 965. 75 Corriedales at 955. Coleridge Downs. Lake Coleridge: 78 halfbreds at 675. Murchison Brothers. Lake Coleridge: 78 halfbreds at 795, 49 halfbreds at 60s. Estate G. B. Starky, Steventon: 84 halfbreds at 70s. 20 halfbreds at 68s. National Mortgage and Agency Company. Ltd., sold on account of: W. E. Tilley. Terrace Downs: 36 Romney cross at 545. 108 Romney cross at 68s, 73 shorn Romney cross at 67s 6d. T. R. Richards: Bryans Hill: 27 Romney cross at 765. Dalgety and New Zealand Loan. Ltd., sold on account of: Mount Algidus Station. Rakaia Gorge: 82 halfttredis at 655, 59 halfbreds at 55s 6d, 60 halfbreds at 775, 14 halfbreds at 43s 6d. Wills and Le Cren. Snowden: 38 Romneys at 545. 62 Romneys at 68s. P. H. Collison. Windwhistle: 113 Romneys at 76s 6d. R. G. Deans. Homebush: 72 Romneys at 555. T. V. Harris and Son, Hororata: 55 Corriedales at 575, 67 Corriedales at 555. E. L. Rice. Hororata: 13 Romneys at 81s. J. G. Cran, Highlands: 64 Romney cross at 87s 6d. 55 Romney cross at 91s: 41 Romney cross at 925. R. F. White. Silverwood: 76 Corriedales at 725. C. Cooper, Fighting Hill: 101 Romney cross at 78s 6d. T. Abbott, Brackendale: 55 Corriedales at 725, 59 Corriedales at 70s. Estate W. G. Gerard, Blackhills: 52 Romney cross at 70s. ADULT EWES Dalgety and New Zealand Loan, Ltd., sold on account of:— Mount Algidus Station Rakaia Gorge: 100 four-year-old halfbreds at 51s, 70 four-year-old halfbreds at 50s, 70 four-year-old halfbreds at 455, 150 annual draft Merinos at 35s 6d. 157 annual draft Merinos at 32s 6d. R. G. Deans. Homebush: 222 four-year-old shorn Romneys at 51s, 189 five-year-old shorn Romneys at 42s 6d. 51 five-year-old shorn Romneys at. 34s 6d. T. Abbott Brackendale: 122 four-year-old Border-Corriedales at 45s 6d. 82 five-year-old Border Corriedales at 40s. R. F. White, Silverwood: 100 four-year-old Corriedales at 52s 6d, 71 four-year-old Corriedales at 50s 6d. Wills and Le Cren. Snowden: 178 five-year-old Romneys at W. F. Gerard, Whiohau: 40 five-year-olds at 425. Pyne. Gould, Guinness Ltd., sold on account of:— E. H. Sime. Grasslands: 135 four-year-old Corriedales at 465, 150 four-year-old Corriedales at 63s 6d. 70 lour-year-old Corriedales at 575, 98 five-year-old Corriedales at 435. 54 five-year-old Corriedales at 38s. Estate G. B. Starky, Steventon: 109 four-year-old Romney cross at 445. T. Abbott, Brackendale: 165 four-year-olds at 50s, 53 five-year-old Border-Corriedales at 425.

C. A. Jenkins. Valehead: 139 four-year-old shorn Romney cross at 40s. C. G. Robinson. Moreton Marsh: 201 four-year-old Corriedales at 70s. Coleridge Downs. Lake Coleridge: 199 four-year-old halfbreds at 465. 266 five-year-old halfbreds at 48s, 198 five-year-old halfbreds at 435. 28 hve-vear-old halfbreds at 445. G. H. Grigg. Haldon Pastures: 83 five-year-old Corriedales at 53S- . „ I. D. King. Hororata: 94 five-year-old shorn Romneys at 395. Murchison Brothers. Lake Coleridge: 90 four-tooth halfbreds at 45s 48 annual draft Merinos at 335. 161 annual draft Merinos at 34s 240 annual draft Merinos at 31s. 24 stud Merinos at 2jgns, 55 stud Merinos at 2Jgns. _, Estate Janet Murchison. Glenthorne: 126 annual draft Merinos at 295. 200 annual draft Merinos at 23s National Mortgage and Agency Company. Ltd., sold on account E. A. Cooney. Darfield: 40 four, six and eight-tooth Corriedales at Ws. D. N. Bates. Gowanlea: 182 annual draft Merinos at 21s. New Zealand Farmers’ Cooperative Association. Ltd., sold on account of: E. A. Dennis. Glenroy: 124 four and five-year-old Romney cross at 48s 6d. WETHERS Dalgetv and New Zealand Loan. Ltd., sold on account of: Wills and Le Cren. Snowden: 42 Romney two-tooths at 67s 6d. E. L. Rice, Hororata: 12 Romnev two-tooths at 69s 6d. C. Cooper. Fighting Hill: 25 Romney cross two-tooths at 68s. Mt. Algidus Station, Rakaia Gorge: 158 annual draft Merinos at 53s 6d. 162 annual draft Merinos at 525. Pyne, Gould, Guinness Ltd., sold on account of: Murchison Brothers. Lake Coleridge: 70 halfbred twotooths at 70s. 53 halfbred twotooths at 675. LAMBS New Zealand Farmers’ Cooperative Association, Ltd., sold on account of: J. C. Bruce. Hororata: 43 Down cross wether lambs at 335, 34 Down cross wether lambs at 50s B. E. "Wright, Willowmere: 118 Romney ewe lambs at 54s 6d. National Mortgage and AgencyCompany, Ltd. sold, on account of: _ W. E. Tilley. Terrace Downs: 70 Romney cross ewe lambs at 60s. 51 Romney cross ewe lambs at 58s 6d. 32 Romney cross ewe lambs at 43s 6d. Dalgety and N.Z. Loan, Ltd., sold on account of: Wills and Le Cren, Snowden: 26 wether lambs at 36s 6d. 59 ewe lambs at 45s 6d. 82 wether lambs at 435, 70 shorn wether lambs at 39s 6d. C. Cooper, Fighting Hill: 23 ewe lambs at 475. J. G. Cran, Highlands: 119 Romney ewe lambs at 63s 6d. R. G. Deans, Homebush: 283 shorn Romney wether lambs at 375, 54 shorn Romney wether lambs at 345. 120 shorn Romney wether lambs at 425. G. Brown. Coalgate: 50 shorn Romneys at 31s. Rochwood Farm, Ltd., Hororata: 150 Romney ewe lambs at 735, 186 Romney ewe lambs at 60s 6d. P. H. Collison, Windwhistle: 109 Romnev ewe lambs at 675. A. D. McLeod. Langminnon: 94 three-quarterbred ewe lambs at 57s . Pyne, Gould, Guinness Ltd., sold on account of: Estate Janet Murchison. Glenthome: 68 first cross English Leicester-Merino wether lambs at 31s. 17 first cross English Leicester-Merino wether lambs at 335. 72 first cross English Leicester-Merino mixed sex lambs at 245.

s. to s. s. to s. Two-tooth Ewes— Best 83 96 70 82 Good 70 78 60 69 Average 60 67 50 58 Others 50 58 40 50 Four-year-old Best 60 70 50 57 Good 50 57 — _ Aver, to good — —. 40 47 Others 45 46 30 37 Five-year-old Ewes— Best 48 54 40 45 Aver, to good 40 47 33 38 Others — 38 —- — Representative sales made