Values Much Higher At Flock Ram Fair

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30983, 12 February 1966, Page 22

Values Much Higher At Flock Ram Fair

On average, values were much better at the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association’s flock ram fair yesterday than they were last year.

For Romneys, of which about 70 per cent of the offering was sold at auction, the advance on last year was about 15} per cent. Corriedales, of which more than 80 per cent were cleared under the hammer, were up on last year’s average by almost 17 per cent.

All but one of the Border Leicesters penned were sold at auction and the average of values was two to three times better than last year.

English Leicesters sold at average rates very similar to last year’s.

Corriedales had a substantially better sale than last year. For the 311 sold under the hammer the average was 25)gns, which was 3 7/10ths gns, or almost 17 per cent, up on the 1965 sale. The size of the entry was much reduced on this occasion and was more in keeping with requirements. Although 131 fewer rams were offered yesterday, 10 more rams were sold at auction than were sold a year ago, and the percentage of rams sold under the hammer yesterday was 82, compared with -60 last year.

The sale was at its best in the first run, when about 60 per cent of the rams were offered. The average for the 194 rams sold during this session was 28)gns. In the second run when 144 rams were put up for sale the average for the 117 sold dropped to about 20}gns.

Over both sessions the sales made remained steady in the 81 to 83 per cent range. Best Bring 671 gns.

The best of the rams sold from 40gns to 67)gns, with good sorts making from 30 to 38gns, average from about 20 to 28gns and others at 14 to 19gns. The 60gns mark was reached or bettered on three occasions. F. C. Ridgen, of Brooklyn, Greendale, whose rams are regularly a feature of this fair, again headed the market with a single ram going to Raywel Farm (Brookside) for 67)gns. A pen of five from W.R.E. and F. E. Booker, of Longfield, Hawarden, set the sale off on a good note when they were sold in the first few minutes for 64gns each to Dalgety and New Zealand Loan acting for Blenheim interests. E. K. Millar (Killinchy) also sold a single ram for 60gns. Averages Most of the leading vendors had better averages than last year. For nine W. R. E. and F. E. Booker averaged 50 2/3 gns with their prices ranging from 34gns to 64gns. Last year their average for 12 was 33gns. F. C. Ridgen sold 70 rams at auction at prices varying from 20 to 67)gns and his average at 30 l/3gns was a fraction better than his performance last year when 72 averaged almost 29jgns. A. E. Cross and Company, Pine Farm, Horrelville, sold 28 rams at auction for prices ranging from 14gns to 46gns and their average was 26 5/7gns compared with just over 24gns for 56 last year. For 36 making from 18)gns to 37gns W. F. Dixon, Littledown, West Melton, averaged almost 26)gns. Lincoln Col-

lege sold six ranging from 24gns to 27)gns at an average of 25gns, and R. J. Millar, Stony Gully, Southbridge, sold 23 at an average of 24gns., with prices ranging from 13) to 41gns—this compared with an average last year of 21gns for 16. A 24gns average was also set by E. K. Millar (Killinchy), who had sales between 16 and 22) gns for seven head. As usual there was a big team in from the estate James Reid, Ltd., of Riversleigh, Darfield, and for 76 sold at auction the average was almost 23 j gns. The Reid rams sold from llgns up to 44gns. For 15, R. W. Ensor. Mandaela, Fernside, averaged 22 2-3 gns and for five J. Studholme (Coldstream) averaged 22 2-sgns. BORDER LEICESTERS The Border Leicesters had an extremely good sale. Twentyone out of the 22 which came before buyers were sold at an average of 26jgns, which was between two and three times better than last year, when the average for 29 was less than lOgns. Most of the rams penned yesterday sold between 20gns and 32gns. The top price was 37gns, which went to J. D. Paterson, of Strowan, Darfield. This was paid for a single ram by J. Ferguson (Waitala). The estate W. B. Scott (Coldstream) also had a sale at 32gns, and C. C. Wells (Oxford) sold two at Signs. C. C. Wells sold five at 30gns to 31gns. Average 30 2-sgns. J. D. Paterson had an average of 27jgns for four selling from 22gns to 37gns, the estate W. B. Scott averaged 26Igns for four making from 21gns to 32gns. and P. R. Jebson (Flockton, Sheffield) averaged 25jgns for two making 24 and 27gns. ENGLISH LEICESTERS The average price for English Leicesters was very similar to last year. Of the 29 of these rams offered, 17 were sold at an average of 13igns. Last year for 11 sold out of 43 the corresponding average was 12 4-sgns. The estate James Reid, Ltd., headed the section with the sale of one ram to M. S. Bower (Swannanoa) at 30gns. The Beechwood Trust (Culverden) also had a sale at 22gns. For three the Reid Estate averaged 20gns with sales between 15gns and 30gns, Beechwood Trust averaged 12igns for six selling from 9 to 22gns, and W. J. Symes (Garthowen, Ashburton) averaged 11 l-3gns for six ranging from 10 to 14gns. ROMNEYS With 571 rams penned in th* Romney section, compared with 470 last yaer, the supply exceeded the demand. The average, however, showed a rise from 25.7gns In 1965 to 29lgns. Yesterday's sale opened steadily, a good many rams selling from 25gns to 35gns, with a few passings, but Inside an hour It picked up markedly. Vendors who sold rams, or passed them, at 20gns to 25gns early in the sale, were later selling at well over 30gns. A big gallery followed the sale. and bidding remained brisk until midday. There was a much smaller gallery when selling began of the second run. and values for a time virtually slumped. In one race, almost three out of every four pens were passed. TOF PRICE Over the concluding stages, however, the demand for the top rams was more marked, and values appeared to firm. It was at this stage of the sale that top price, 91gns, was paid for two rams from the Mayfield breeder, I. R. Oakley. Of the 346 rams offered in the first run, 285 were sold, but in the second run, of the 231 rams offered, 118 were sold and 113 passed.

There were times when it was

hard to follow buyers' ideas of values. It appeared that many had come to spend two hours at the fair, and for nearly two hours the bidding was more in common with a fair whers sheep are in short supply. Those buyers who stayed on Into the afternoon were able to exercise much more selection in their purchases. However, throughout the fair, they showed a decided preference for the well-woolled sheep from Southland vendors. But some local vendors also had very good sales and among them the Oakley breeders of Mayfield and Ashburton, the Estate of E. S. Taylor, Woodend, F. H. Chlttock, of Lincoln, and C. Burrows, of Culverden. Burrows sold 18 of his Beechwood rams from 37gns to 6flgns to average 47igns. The estate of E. S. Taylor (Ravenswood. Woodend) sold 15 from 35gns io 63gns to average 36 l-3gns, while F. H. Chlttock (Ross Stud. Lincoln) sold 22 rams from 20gns to 55gns and averaged a fraction under 33gns. SOUTHLAND VENDORS Of the Southland vendors, C. R. Humphries, of Gore, sold 19 rams from 35gns to 65gns to average just under 45gns, while another southern vendor, F. J. Humphries, of Charlton. Gore, sold 26 rams from 29gns to 49gns to average 37 l-3gns. D. IL Robertson and Company, of Gore, sent a sizeable consignment north for the fair, and they sold 12 from 34gna Io 42igns to average 37]gns. Ashburton vendors did not have large numbers forward, but they secured fair averages. I. R. Oakley, who secured (op price for the second year running (last year he received 131gns for a ram) sold four rants at an average of 62|gns. while Raymond Oakley, of Ashburton, sold six at an average of just under 29gns. R. 1. McRae of Ellesmere, sold five from 24gns to 53igns to average 29.1gns.