Romney two-tooths in good demand

Press, Issue 32535, 19 February 1971, Page 17

Romney two-tooths in good demand

Young Romney ewes had a surprisingly good sale when the series of Ashburton County breeders’ fairs was continued at Tinwald yesterday.

It was a freer sale than for the fine wools last week and the coarser wool sheep were also better priced.

Border Leicester-Romney two-tooths, however, stole the show by selling to $10.25 in a buoyant sale. The Romneys made up some lost ground on the Corriedales yesterday. Whereas last week values decreased on last year’s rates by about $2, the decline for Romneys yesterday was about $1 to $1.50. Some vendors did better than a year ago but they were exceptions. The coarser wool ewes sold yesterday about the same as the finer wools last week.

The offering, at 18,298 head, Including 16.518 Romneys, was about 1000 down on last year. As expected after a season generally favourable for stock, the yarding was a good one. SALE PICKS UP

The sale opened indifferently but soon picked up—by 50c to , 60c per head—and some sheep - sold later in the sale were said ; to have earned as much as $1 more than comparable sheep sold earlier. Some vendors also received I more for lesser sheep later in the day than they did for better lines earlier. The sale eased again about xunch time but it picked up ; again and ended on a very . strong note. Buying power was stronger than last week and sheep went i to Oamaru, W aim ate. Timaru, Leeston and Banks Peninsula as well as to local areas. At auction there was almost a complete clearance. The top lines showed the big* gest drop on last year’s sales. No fancy prices were paid for the best Romneys. The top price of the day for Romneys 1 was $9.40 which again went to Jamison Brothers, of Dromore, who last year headed the sale at $12.30. For the top sheep the decline on a year ago was about $2 to $3. But the margin was appreciably less over the sale as a whole and a comparison of nine pens of sheep sold last year and eight pens of the same vendors’ sheep disposed yesterday indicates that the difference w as about 91.30. Stock firms reported that some ! of the vendors whose sheep came forward in much better order this year showed a gain yesterday on their returns of a year ago of 50c per head and even up to about $l. One representative said sheep' sold last year at $6.50 to $6.80 and sold yesterday for as much, as 87.80. When the top sheep selling yesterday at $8.50 to $9.40; good at $7.50 to $8.50, average at $6.50 to $7.40, and others at $5.50 to $6.40, Romney values were almost the same as those for Corriedales a week ago. Again auctioneers noted that

buyers had strict limits and when offerings reached $8 interest fell off. Averages down Apart from their top-priced pen, Jamison Brothers realised $9.20 for 231 and $9 for 241. Their average for 795 sheep was almost $9, compared with $11.35 a year ago for 729. R. W. Oakley, of Mayfield, reached $9 three times and had a better than $9 average for three pens containing 193 sheep, which sold from $9 to $9.10. A. Doak, Ltd, of Wakanui, was again to the fore with 186 selling at $9 and for 625 making from $8 upwards his pen average for six pens was almost $8.40, which compared with $9.90 for five pens last year. For two pens bringing from $8.30 to $8.75, D. S. Sewell, of Mayfield, had a pen average of $8.50, and C. M. Hill, of Dromore, with 491 sheep ranging from $7.85 to $8.60 recorded a pen average of $8.25 for four pens, whereas last year his average for a similar number of pens at $9.57. Pen averages of just in excess of $8 were made by both A. W. McDonald, of Dromore, who sold 430 ewes from $7.90 to $8.30, and W. M. McConnell, of Winchmore, with 209 sheep making from $8.05 to $B.lO.

One of the high ponts of the sale was the offering of six pens of Border LeicesterRomney ewes. Apart from a pen which was passed in at $8.60, these sold from $9.20 to $10.25, with the top price of the section and the day going to Fechney Brothers, of Westerfield, for 60. A single pen of Border Leicester-Corriedales from J. Logan and Sons, of Mitcham, sold for $8.85. Romney-Corriedales and Romney cross ewes brought -from $5.55 to $9.10. D. S. Sewell made the top sale for 78 Romney-Corriedales. Two. pens of three-quarter-breds also sold at $7.75 and $7.80. The following is a random selection of sales (the sheep being Romneys unless otherwise stated): — NMA Company of New Zoo land, Ltd, sold on account oft— F. D. Tasker. Ruapuna: 117 al A. Doak, Ltd, Wakanui: 77 at $B, 123 at $8.40, 94 at $8.60, 80 at $B.lO, 186 at $9, 65 at $8.25. Jamison Brothers, Dromore: 102 at $8.40, 231 at $9.20, 119 at $9.40, 241 at $9. B. F. Morrow, Montalto: 159 at $B. D. S. Sewell, Mayfield: 167 at

$8.75, 83 at 88.30, 78 Romney Cornedales at $B.lO. R. W. Oakley, Mayfield: 73 at $9.10, 60 at $9.10. Fechney Brothen, Westerfield: 86 Border-Romneys at $9.70, 60 at $10.25. J. Logan and Sons, Mitcham: 98 Border-Corriedales at $8.85. Pyne, Gould, Guinness Ltd, sold on account 07:— A. R. Harris, Maronan: 109 at $7.60. 60 at $7.60. L. M. Trott, Ruapuna: 60 at $7.45, 85 at $7.43. Pinefield Farms, Ltd, Winchmore: 136 at $8.50, 104 at $B. C. M. Hill. Dromore: 156 at $8.60. 90 at $8.50. 129 at $7.85, 116 at $8.05. Shepparton Farm, Ltd, Winchmore: 107 at $B.lO 62 at $B, 107 at $7.95. McLenaghen Brothers, Mayfield: 70 at $7.80, 198 at 88. T. E. Galletly, Lismore: 88 Romney cross at S 3. Dalsety New Zealand, Ltd, sold on account of:— Bean Brothers. Mayfield: 111 at $7, 82 at $7.30. 69 at $B. W. N. Lowery, Tinwald: 101 at $6.90, 100 at $6.60, 78 at $6.10, 102 at $7.90. R. P. and P. J. Couper, Rakaia: 300 at $8.55. 100 at $7.90. Alford Station, Ltd, Ashburton Forks: 61 shorn at $7.55. Westmere Fanning Company, Dromore: 139 at $7.70. B. A. Witte, Lagmhor: 125 at $8.30, 169 at $8.45. G. C. Keast, Cavendish: 108 three-quarterbreds at $7.80. New Zealand Farmer*' Co-op-erative Association, sold on account oft— R. W. Carr. Mayfield: 87 at $6.90. 92 at $8.30, 102 at $8.55, 60 at $B. J. P. Kane, Mount Somers: 82 at $7.10. 99 at $7.60. J. A. Brown, Wakanui: 89 at $8.50. D. I. Fechney, Westerfield: 100 at $7.50, 70 at $7, 70 at $7.20. B. E. Newton, Chatmoss: 124 at $7.20. Wingfield Farming Company, Lismore: 60 at $7, 61 at $7.30. Wright Stephenson and Company, Ltd, sold on Account of;— Mereoak Farm, Mayfield: 60 at $7.50. R. J. and E. A. Quigley, Punawai: 80 at $8.20, 64 at $7.90. R. J. Ashworth, Dromore: 97 at $7.20. S. S. McClimont. Methven: 63 at $6.60, 143 at $7.70, G. M. Watson, Hinds: 115 Rom-ney-Corriedales at $6, 71 at $5.90, 70 at $5.55. Pyne, Gould, Guinness Ltd and NMA Company of New Zealand, Ltd, sold on account of:— A. W. McDonald, Dromore: 122 at $B, 188 at $8.30, 120 at $7.90.