FLOCK RAM FAIR Spirited auction for Border Leicesters

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32524, 6 February 1971, Page 17

FLOCK RAM FAIR Spirited auction for Border Leicesters

It was the day of the Border Leicesters again at the Canterbury flock ram fair yesterday. In a spirited auction in which every sheep on offer was sold, prices for the second year in succession showed a dramatic rise—by 46 per cent on last year’s fair, when prices were also up by almost 76 per cent on the previous year.

It was a different story, however, in the Corriedaie and Romney sections. Reflecting the sagging market for finer wools in the last two seasons, the average level of Corriedale prices fell by 32 to 33 per cent. Romney values also feil about 13 per cent In the Romney section also less than half the rams penned sold under the hammer, while in the Corriedale sale parsings amounted to more than 40 per cent of the offering. Corriedales formed the major part of the day’s entry of wool-breed rams. Demand was similar to last year some 58 per cent of the rams penned finding buyers at auction compared with 57 per cent at last year’s fair but values were at lower levels. For the 255 rams sold in the first part of the sale, the average price was $36. In the second run, when the inquiry tapered off somewhat and one firm in its part of the sale could record no sale at all the sale of 109 sheep represented only 441 per cent of the selection, the average price receding to just over $32. CENTRAL OTAGO INTEREST Over the whole sale, 364 rams,

or almost exactly 58 per cent of the 628 penned, sold for an average of almost $35, which was $l7 or between 32 and 33 per cent back on last year when the breed lost $4 per head or 7 per cent on the previous fair. Almost all vendors gained averages for their consignments which were well back on last year. While there was a hand, ful of sales at better than $6O and two at more than $lOO, the main weight of sales was be tween about $2O and $4O.

The market would have been poorer had it not been for quite strong Central Otago interest. One buyer from this area was strong in his praise of the shift ing qualities of these sheep to his area.

Top price of the section was $l3O, which went to the estate H. T. Little, of Hui Hui, Hawarden, for five. These sheep were bought by S. T. Ashworth and Sons (Sefton). E. K. Millar, of Calrossie. Killinchy, also gamed SllO for two and $9O for one. Robert Reid and Sons. Ltd (Darfield) had a sale at $75 and W. F. Dixon and Sons (West Eyreton), sold a ram for $7O. For a small tally of rams the Little Estate had a high average. For seven selling from $55 to $l3O, the average was between $lOB and $lO9, which was much better than the estate’s effort last year with eight averaging $65, but they were the exception to the general experience on the day.

K. V Hood (Somerton), who last year had an impressive average of more than $9B for 30, still had a good average on the day yesterday at $50.50 for 19. which sold from $32.50 to

$65. His sales included two groups of four rams each at $65 and $6O.

A. E. Cross and Company (Rangiora), who headed the sale last year at $l5O and average almost $75 for 23, sold 30 rams at auction yesterday for prices ranging from $3O to $62 and averaging $43.50. For 16 selling from $17.50 to $llO E. K. Millar averaged $4l and W. R. E. and F. E. Booker (Hawarden), with 17 selling from $3O to $45 averaged $39, compared with $6l for 29 last year. BIG GREENDALE ENTRY J. K. Fincham (Hawarden) averaged $3B for 10 ranging from $3O to $5O to also lose ground on last year when his average was $59 for seven.

P. N. Martin (Seafield) averaged $36.50 for 18 silling from $25 to $45, and Hight Bros (Hororata), who averaged $63 for 18 a year ago, sold 15 this time for prices between $3O and $4O to average just short of $36.

Once more there was a big team of rams in from F. C. Ridgen (Greendale), and for 105 bringing from $17.50 to $6O, his average was $33.75 compared with a shade under $39 last year for 108. Robert Reid and Sons, Ltd, were also strongly represented again and for 54 rams selling from $l6 to $75 their average was just under $2B. whereas last year for 57 they averaged $46.

i The Border Leicester sale fol- ( lowed the Corriedale auction—and immediately the alleyway i between the pens filled. While auctioneers had been struggling » between $2O and $4O with the ■ Coriedales. price levels for the Border Leicesters jumped to between $BO and $llO. The whole of the 51 penned sold freely, the average at just on $95 being $3O up on last year’s sale or about 46 per cent better—and that was on a sale which was $2B dearer and almost 76 per cent up on 1969. Most of the Borders sold between $7O and $l2O. with one sale reaching to $165 for two rams from R. M. Wallace (Ashley), which went to J. R. Campbell (Timaru). N W. Scott (Coldstream) averaged $lOB for five selling from $lOO to $ll5 compared with al most $66 last year for 14, and R. J. Low and Son (Highbank) averaged $lO4 for five with Individual sales at $7O to $l2O. The Longnewton Trust (Ashburton) averaged close to the $lOO mark with sales between $9O and $lO5 and P. H. Letham (Ashburton) averaged $93.50 for 12 making from $65 to $112.50. For 16 making from $7O to $95 Mrs B. E. Early (Montalto). also averaged $B3 50. ROMNEY DECLINE Romneys had a hard sale. A small improvement shown at last year’s fair was lost. A small gallery of buyers showed interest only in a limited selection of sheep. Consequently, it was a satisfactory sale for about half a dozen vendors —for the others, it was very disappointing. Sheep from Southland breeders again had a fair sale, but there was not the marked preference this year for fine-woolled rams although this class of sheep from well-established breeders continued to receive an inquiry Buyers also appeared to sort out sheep which were a little open in the head cover. Although the average price was down, the percentage of sheep sold was a little better than last year. From the entry of 313 145 were sold at auction for $34.50. Last year. 203 rams from an entry of 478 averaged $39.70. The top price was $82.50 for two rams, offered, separately, on account of C. Burrows (Culverden). They were the last two of his consignment of 18 to be offered. and the sale was almost over.

For 12 rams sold under the hammer. Mr Burrows averaged $45.60. L. E. Taylor (View Hill), again had a satisfactory sale. From an offering of 30 rams, he sold 26 at auction for an average of $39 The rest also found buyers before the end of the sale. Prices ranged from $32.50 to $45. C. R. Humphries and Company (Gore) also had a steady demand for its rams their entire consignment of 28 being sold at auction. Prices ranged from $25 to $62.50, for an average of $44.30. J. D. and W. T. Robertson (Gore), also had a fair sale, but by holding out for reserves, which were high for the sale, they did not obtain such a good clearance. From an offering of 39 rams, they sold 24 at auction, prices ranging from $4O to $65. giving an average of $51.60. R W. Oakley (Mayfield) obtained an average of $42.80 for 11 of 17 rams offered Prices ranged from $45 to $52.50. For the rest of the regular vendors it was far from a reasonable sale. The estate of E. S. Taylor (Woodend) offered 26. ? nd JX?th prices ranging from $l6 to $27.50, the average was $2O. For many of the rest of rams sold at auction, the price was only the equivalent of two or three two-tooth ewes. ENGLISH LEICESTER

In the English Leicester sale, 15 out of 24 rams sold between $17.50 and $55 for an average 5f just in excess of $3O compared with $35 for five last year. This was a decline in average price of 14 to 15 per cent on last year’s smaller number of rams sold. The best price of the day was $55 which was gained by R. J. Low and Son (Highbank) in a sale to M. S. Bower (Swannanoa). The Lows averaged $27.50 for five, selling from $17.50 to $55, and the estate of E, S. Taylor (Woodend) averaged almost $34 for seven making from $17,50 to $47.56