Slow Merino Sale At Tinwald

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31018, 25 March 1966, Page 8

Slow Merino Sale At Tinwald

Cast-for-age Merino ewes showed rises of up to 7s 6d on last year’s values at the fine-wool breeders’ ewe fair at Ttowald yesterday.

Merino wethers showed a rise of up to 8s a head, younger ewes up to 14s, and ewe lambs 9s. Wether lambs were close to 1965 values.

The entry totalled 6194 head, more than 4000 of them coming from two vendors—the Mount Possession Run Company, of Ashburton Gorge, and Messrs Prouting, Mesopotamia, Ltd., of Rangitata Gorge.

The fair did not attract a very large gallery, and the sale was very alow, several lots being passed. The high country Merinos were considered to have come forward in better order this year. With marked rises being obtained at ewe fairs and sheep sales generally this autumn, along with very good values for ewe and wether iambs, the Merinos offered yesterday should have sold better. They had good mouths, and most were carrying a good growth of wool, but there was just not the interest.

Half the yarding consisted of cast-for-age Merino ewes, and here the top price was 50s for 157 from Messrs Prouting, Mesopotamia, Ltd. This run sold 704 ewes of this description from Ks to the top price, and their ten average of 38s sd. was ••Uy 7s Cd better than last year's pan average. The Mt. Possession Bun Com-

pany sold 1117 cast-for-age Merinto ewes at 30s to 41s, the average over eight sales being 32s 3d, a rise of 3S 3d on last year. The same vendors achieved the best price-rise of the sale with 318 two-tooth ewes at 43s 6d to 48s, giving an average of 45s «d—l4s better than last year. Mesopotamia sold 378 two-tooths from 43s 6d to 50s 8d for a pen average of 47s lOd, compared with an average of 48s 6d for two lots last year.

Merino wethers sold up to 50s, this being obtained by both Mt. Possession and Mesopotamia. Two lots totalling 312 head from Mt. Possession averaged 49s 3d, while Mesopotamia sold 460 for a pen average of just under 435, compared with an average of 34s 6d last year. The Mesopotamia wethers included 289 cast-for-age sheep, which sold from 35s to 395.

Halfbred wethers sold to 68s for a pen of 132 four-tooths from L. F. Walker, Manuka Point.

Mt. Possession sold 266 wether lambs from 22s 6d to 25s 6d, and Mesopotamia sold 82 at 25s 6d. The Mt. Possession lambs worked out at Is cheaper than last year. Mt. Possession sold 198 Merino ewe lambs at 28s, compared with two lots at 21s 6d and 17s last year. A pen of 104 from Mesopotamia sold at 275. Top price of the day, however, was 53s for 81 Merino ewe lambs from D. C. Anderson, Ellesmere, and there were sales of halfbreds to 475.

A pen of 88 four and flve-year-old Corriedale ewes from Double HUI Station (Rakala Gorge) sold for 68s, and 165 annaml draft halfbreds from L. 1* Walker (Manuka Point) sold from 57s 6d to 58s.