Quarter Of Ram Entry At Ashburton Passed In

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30677, 17 February 1965, Page 5

Quarter Of Ram Entry At Ashburton Passed In

Only rams conforming to their breed and in good condition sold well at the stud and flock ram and stud ewe fair for mutton 'breeds held by the Ashburton Agricultural and Pastoral Association at Ashburton yesterday. Other lots met a poor sale and at least a quarter of the entry was passed in. Some pens were sold privately after being passed in at auction. The attendance of buyers was smaller than usual because harvesting is still going on in many districts.

The entry totalled 1529. the largest sections being South-down-Border Leicester 808, and Southdown 713. The stud ewe section was confined to eight entries.

The stud ram section was topped for the third year in succession by C. A. Adams (Greendale) with a one-ghear Southdown which sold at 45gns. Average Southdown flock rams sold up to Bgns and good up to 14gns. Any which sold above that figure were exceptional. The best price was 29gns paid for a pen of two on account of John Miles (Winchmore). He also obtained 26gns for another pen of two. H. G. Petrie (Woodend) gained second top price of 27gns for this breed. The tops of the SouthdownBorder Leicester cross rams realised from 12gns to 19gns, the highest price being for one from D. J. and J. Stewart (Rakaia) who had one of the largest entries in this breed. Many rams were passed in and there were several sales at Signs. New Breed Exceptional prices were paid for a small entry of the new breed of Dorset Down flock rams from J. G. and R. J. King (Wakanui). One sold at 45gns, another at 42gns and another at 30gns.

South-Suffolk, which is usually not a popular breed, sold well at prices ranging from lOgns

to 23gns. Page Bros. (Seaview) obtained the top price. There was not much demand for Border Leicesters, many of which were sold at the upset price of sgns. The best price of 21gns went to H. M. King (Winchmore), but some good rams were entered by T. H. Lemon (Lauriston) who sold nine at 13gns to 20gns. There was a relatively good sale for South-Dorset Downs which comprised 20 pens. There were quite a few sales at 15gns to 26gns, the best price going to H. M. King.