Strong inquiry at Culverden fair

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32541, 26 February 1971, Page 16

Strong inquiry at Culverden fair

Vendors of adult breeding ewes showed worth-while improvements on last year’s returns at the Culverden ewe fair yesterday. Following the pattern of some recent fairs, the older ewes had the best of the sale, although two-tooths maintained last year’s rates.

The fair opened quietly, but it was a most satisfactory sale, and in quality compared with any of the recent fairs in the North Canterbury; district.

It was not a large fair for this district. At 20,000 head, the yarding was 3585 down on last year. It consisted of 5575 two-tooths (down 1405), 14,230 adult ewes (down 2170) and 195 ewe iambs. Hill country balfbreds made up the bulk of the offering. While this class of sheep was ideal for the requirements of down-country farmers, some of the feature lines did not have the same bloom as usual.

The two-tooth sale opened moderately with few sales at more than 37, but the sale quickened before a growing gallery. During the second half of the two-tooth, sale, values showed an appreciation of 40c to 50c on opening rates, and this helped to keep the market up to last year’s levels. By and large, the market for young ewes changed little. A survey of 27 pens, compared with 26 pens offered by the same vendors last year, showed an improvement of less than 20c. The bigger two-tooths off the front country had the best of the market, while some of the tussock two-tooths were easier. For one sizeable line the decline was 56c.

The fair wu topped by a pen of 220 two-tooths from D. R. ’ Fruer, of Mount Benger, Hurunui, at 39.55. Four sales ranged from 38.25 up, and the pen average wu 38.85, 5c up on lut year. The top pen, however, fetched 55c more than last year’s best pen. G. R. Gould (Ben Lomond) had pens of more than 200 ewes at 38,50 and 39, an improvement of 45c on his main pens lut year. The annual line of two-tooths from A. F. 8. Rutherford (Montrose) gave another good Illustration of the market. Numbering more than 800 head, they sold from 37.45 to 38.10 to give a pen average of 37.95, which wu almost the same as lut year. The best of the two-tooths sold from 38.20 to 38.60. Feature pens brought up to 39.55, average from 37 30 to 37.80, and others from 36 to fl. Adult ewe ule As wu to be expected, cast-for-age ewes met a very tree sale. The yarding wu down on last year's, and many prospective buyers left the fair without filling their requirements. The feature lines showed little change on lut year’s rates, but the hiU country ewes ware consistently 30c to 40c stronger. One vendor showed a rise of 81.50 on lut year. Most of the yarding sold from 36.20 to 36.80, with a few sales at 37 or better. The Mount Benger ewes, now being offered under the name of D. R. Fruer, again topped the section, with 460 four-year-olds at 37.80. and the balance of 137—1 n the same pen—at 37.25. The top price wu the same as lut year. The estate of J. - Murgatroyd (Balmoral) received 87.15 tor the first “cut” of 505 four-year-olds, and 37 for the balance. The estate of F. and J. Northcote (1405 ewes) wu again the biggest vendor in the cast-for-age section, and its prices gave a good Indication of the trend of the market for the tussock ewes. Prices ranged from 36.20 to 36.70, to give a pen average of 36-58, a rise of 28c. Few vendors could have shown a better Improvement on lut year than the Glens of Tekoa Estate. Ils 762 founyearolda, offered in two pens, sold from 8« 10 to 36,15 io give an improvement of more than 31-50 on last year. Buying Inquiry wu again well spread, but this year more ewes were bought for nearby districts, and fewer for Mid-Canterbury. Details of sales were:— TWO-TOOTH CWES Pyne, Gould, Guinness Ltd, sold on account of:— Glynn Wye Station, Lewis Pass: 69 at 36.20, 70 at 80-60, 67 at 81-20. 100 at 87.10. G. R. Gould, Ben Lomond: 92 at 86X0, 201 at 38.50, 205 at 39. G. H. Roxburgh, Barcaldlne: 100 at 88.167115 at 38.40. R. A. Chaffey and Son, Kelnton Combe: HO at 37.40! Glens of Tekoa, Culverden: 53 at 38.20.

Pahau Pastures, Culverden: 200 at 66. Dalgety, New Zeelend, Ltd, sold on account Estate F. and J. Northcote, Whalesback: 168 at 16.40, 60 at 85.10. I J. C. Douglas, Hemingford: 101 at 87 J. R. Johns, Waverley: 87 at 87. J. H. Davidson, Wynyard: 50 < at 86.10. D. H Rutherford, Leslie Hills: 100 at |6JO, 100 at 86.90, 67 at ' $5.90. Macfarlane Estates, Ltd, Kai* ware: 153 at 88.80, 93 at 08.30, . 143 at 37.30. A. F. S. Rutherford, Montrose: 123 at 87.60, 100 at 38.10, 187 at 37.80, 87 at 37.45, 164 at 88.60, 142 at 88.10. A. G. and R. F. Mclntosh, Eskdale: 120 at 87.70. Estate H. V. Snushall. Conway Hills: 73 at 86.90, 199 at 86X5. D. R. Fraser, Mount Benger 237 at 38.25, 134 at 86.16, 149 at 38.50, 220 at 39.55. The NMA Company, sold on account of:— A. P. Barker, Kelty: 94 at 35.45. D. B. McKay, Davidson; 87 at 66.25. J. L. Rutherford. Menu: 147 i at 36.80, 167 at 37. Palmside, Ltd, Culverden: 141 - at 37.60. New Zealand Panners' Co- j operative Association of Centerbury, Ltd, sold on eccount of:— J. O. Black, Stonehaven: 97 at 1 38X0. J. R. Johns, Waverley: 87 at 36.10. G. W. Ryder. Goat HUls: 87 at 37.50, 100 at 37.60. J. A. Calder, The Homestead, Culverden: 122 at 37.60. J. A. Calder Trust 61 at 87.60. ADULT BWBS Pyne, Gould, Guinness Ltd, I sold on account of— Estate F. and J. Northcote, : Whalesback: 200 four-yearoJds at 36.70, 276 at 36.20, 247 at 36.55. Eatate W. H. Atklnaon, Mason : Hills: 190 four-yesiMtlds at 36.90, , 109 at 36X0, 150 five-year-olds st 35.85. A. G. Green, Karaha, Hamner ; Springs: 150 four-year-olds at 34.80, 258 at 85.75, 100 four-year- , olds at 35.80. < Henshaw Brothers. Kia Ora Downs: 78 four-year-olds at 85.95, < 464 at 66.65. < Glens of Teko, Culverden: 384 four-year-olds at 86.10, 388 at I

i 86.15, 149 fiva-year-olda at 35-20. Glynn Wye Station, Lewia Pass: 209 four-year-olds at 36.45, 315 at 36.10, 265 at 36.05. H. T. Grigg. Cascade: 200 four-year-olds at 36. 178 at 35.90, 110 five-year-olds at 85X5. New Zealand Farmers' Caoperatfve Association of Canterbury, Ltd, sold on account of: G. W. Ryder, Goat HUls, Waiau: 411 four-year-olds at 86.75, 221 five-year-olds at *5.10. J. A. Calder, The Homesteed, Culverden: 100 five-year-olds at 86X5, 345 five-year-olds at 86X6. The NMA Company mW an account of: D. B. McKay, Hurunul: 148 four-year-olds at 36.70. Marble Point Station. Culverden: 200 four-year-olds at 36, 196 at 35.70. A. W. Amor and Sons, Ayrburn: 75 mixed-aged at 86.40. Cloudy Range Ltd, Walau: 386 four-yeaiMjlds at 85.70. Palmside Ltd, Culverden: IM four-yeaiMflda at 86. J. L. Rutherford. Ltd, Morna: 400 five-year-olds at 86.75, 271 five-year-olds at 36.60. Dalgety, New Zealand, Ltd, sold on account of: Estate H. V. SnushaU, Conway HUla: 466 four-year-olds at 36.30, 68 five-year-olds at M M Macfarlane Estates Ltd, Kaiware; 192 four-year-olds at 35.05, 564 at 86.50. i T. and J. Barrett, The Poplars: 108 four-year-olds at 84.60, 378 four-yeatMllds at 85X0. Estate F. and J. Northcota. Whalesback: 377 four-year-olds at $6lO, 417 at $6.90. D. H. Rutherford, Leslie HUls: 503 four-yaar-olds at $6.30. E. G. O. Rutherford, Lochlel: 416 four-year-olds at $6.40, 100 at $6.30, 109 five-year-olds at $6, 105 at $5.50. J. H. Davison, Wynyard: 80 I five-year-olds at $5.70. Mrs D. G. Pickering. Rockdale: 82 five-year-old* at $4.90. N. A. Vowles, Medway, Hanmer Springs: 290 four-year-olds at $6.20, 69 at $4.80. J. R. Fraser, Mount Benger, Hurunui: 460 four-year-olds at $7.80, 137 at $7.25, 184 five-year-olds at $6.60. Estate J. Murgatroyd, Balmoral: 250 four-year-olds at $7.15, 255 at $7. O. M., M. J. Dalmer, Annandale: 348 five-year-olds at $6.05, 87 at $5.90. Lands and Survey Departmeat, Cheddar Valley: 279 five-year-olds at $6, 476 at $5.75. A. O. C. Rutherford, Waltohl Peaks: 89 five-year-olds at $5.45,