Lower prices for mutton breed rams at flock fair

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32838, 11 February 1972, Page 6

Lower prices for mutton breed rams at flock fair

I Mutton breed rams suffered a fairly heavy drop in values when the Canterbury flock ram fair began at the Show Grounds at Addington yesterday. The decline was widespread and was generally from about 36 to 40 per cent on last year’s values, which were also lower, with one exception, than in 1970. The average level of values

for Southdowns was down between 36 and 37 per cent on last year’s fair, Dorset Downs by about 37 to 38 per cent, South Dorset Downs by 39 :to 40 per cent and South Suffolks by 41 to 42 per cent. There were hardly enoughl Hampshires and Poll Dorsetsj in last year’s sale to make aj fair comparison with yester-i day’s sale. The falling off of values could no doubt be attributed Ito the lower returns farmers > are getting for prime Jambs and it does not yet appear that they are prepared to accept that an upsurge in wool values could come to the rescue of the industry and make lup fo r the present shortcomings of lamb. A vendor in the Southdown section commented that his returns this year from rams would be comparable with those of 1940, when the cost structure of farming was radically different from today. After a day of unsettled weather on Wednesday harvesting could not be held responsible for a lack of interest on this occasion and the sales attracted reasonable galleries, and with useful recent rains having considerably brightened feed prospects drought could also not be held a factor depressing the level of values. Fanners generally had lowered their sights and not all breeders were prepared to accept the meagre offers that buyers were prepared to make and this resulted in rams being passed over at auction, particularly in the Southdown section.

Southdown sale The average drop in South- ' down values was about $lO or . Sil per head on last year’s fair ‘ and a lot fewer rams changed hands this year at auction. , Last year when 517 Southdown ; rams were sold at auction these ‘ represented more than 80 per ; cent of the selection. Yesterday, : although the offering was much 1 bigger than last year—7ss compared with 627—0n1y 395 were sold at auction. Almost as many . were passed as were sold. In the first run of the sale when 429 rams came forward, 1 sales amounted to 228 or 53 to 54 per cent, and the proportion of sales fell off only slightly in the second part of the sale when 167 or 51 per cent of 326 were told. Over-all the percentage of sales at auction was between 52 and 53 per cent. The level of values also remained fairly consistent over the sale. In the first run it was {25.20 and for the second run just under $24 and for the sale ss a whole almost $24.70, which was about $11.25 or 36} per cent down on last year. The top price of the day for ;he section—s77—was paid for a single ram from T. E. M. Brooks Brookside). It was a long way ahead of the next best price at Ml. Last year Mr Brooks had two sales at $BO. K. A. Kidd, of Walau, was the buyer of this year’s top-priced entry. Last year he also took one of the toppriced rams. Sales at $4l were made yesterday by A. Zuppicich, of Prebble* ton, and P. J. and H. C. Abbott, of Southbridge, for one and three rams respectively. The Abbotts also had another two at $4O and D. C. McMillan (Lochaber), Ltd, received $4O for a pen of five. Invariably vendors recorded lower averages than last year, p J. and H. C. Abbott had a relatively good result on the dav. With 11 rams making from $32.50 to $4l they averaged almost $3B, which was close to their aver age last year of $4O for eight. T. E. M. Brooks, who last year averaged almost $52.50 for 22, sold 18 at auction yesterday from $24 to $77 to average just in excess of $34. For 18 selling from 527.50 to $4l, A. Zuppicich averaged $33. Last year for 22 he averaged $36. Five rams from R. J. Low and Son (Highbank) bringing from $29 to $35 averaged just under $33, and with 13 selling from $3O to $35 F. C. Ridgen (Greendale) averaged almost $32, whereas last year for 16 he did better than $38.50. R. M. and G. A. Petrie (Swannanoa) averaged just over $3l with six selling from $3O to $32.50. At last year’s fair their average for 23 rams was almost $41.50. . For a big team of 37 making from $2O to $4O, D. C. McMillan (Lochaber), Ltd (Irwell) averaged slightly better than $3O. This was well down on last year

when for 38 rams the average was close to $45.50.

T. M. Fleming, Ltd (Mount Grey) sold 14 from $25 to $29 to average better than $27, whereas last year for 14 his average was about $40.50.

B. E. Jarman (Darfield) also had an average of between $27 and $2B for 19 making from $24 to $35.

I. P. Chamberlain (Norwood) ( Isold seven at $22 to $3O for an [average of between $26 and $27, and J. K. Fincham (Hawarden), who had an average of just ! under $36 last year for 27, j dropped back yesterday to a I little better than $26 for 21 ; making from $2O. to $35. R. L. A. I McMillan (Irwell) received from I $2O to $3O for seven and the i average was almost $26, comI pared with about $38.50 a year ago for 26.

D. W. Sheat, of Dunsandel. who averaged almost $4l a year ago for 32, had to accept an average of just over $2l yesterday for 24 selling from $l7 to $2B. His were among the sheep that were from areas that have been hit by drought this season, which has prevented breeders producing sheep up to their usual standard. The best of the Southdowns made from about $4O to $77, with good at $3O to $3B, average at; $24 to $29 and others at $l5 to $22. Lower average South Dorset Down rams had the best inquiry in the heavy Down breeds’ section. Although the clearance was good—ll 3 being sold at auction out of the 127 offered—the average dropped by around 40 per cent to a modest $34. Last year all but three of an entry of 105 found buyers under the hammer for $55.80.

K. W. Busch, of Pendarves, and G. M. Scott, Ltd, of Rakaia. topped the section, each with a single ram at $lOO. Mr Busch also sold a pen of two at S6O each.

Wtih an entry of seven selling from $35 to $lOO. G. M. Scott, Ltd, averaged $45. I. M. and N. M. Watson (Weedons), sold 12 at $27 to $46. to average $3B; J. P. Marshall (Darfield), seven at $27 to $4l to average $33; B. and W. Francis (Halswell), 9 at $25 to $3B to average $29: and L. H. and C. R. Johnson (Dunsandel), 16 at $25 to $27 to average $26.25. Sales of smaller lots included E. T. McDermott (Halswell), with five selling at $3O to $5O. to average $36.20; Mrs S. D. McMillan (Irwell). with six selling at $25 to $4B to average almost $37; R. W. Armstrong (Rakaia). with six at $36; and L. H. Harrington (Takamatua) with six at $27.50 to $45, averaging $34. A. A. and L. W. Ellis rWainnr”' sold two singles at $5O and $52.

After riding the crest of the wave for a number of years. Dorset Down prices came down to very realistic levels. The sale began on a very shaky note, but although buyers showed a nreference for the big sheep, the clearance was quite gnnd. From the entry of 196, 156 found buyers at auction, but the average was down from $53 last year to a little more than $33.

H. Dalziel (Waipara), tonped the section with a fine lengthy sheep at $l7O, and he had sales of singles at $BO and $6O. D. O. Masefield (Akaroa) gained one of the best averages of the day with eight selling from $4O to $BO to average $54.50. R. T. Masefield, of the same district, averaged $49.60, his consignment of eight selling from $32 to $BO. Realisations of other vendors included:—W. H. F. Butt (Seddon). 10 at $25 to $4O. averaging $34.40: A. H. Busch (Broadfields). 14 at s*s tn $5O. averaging $38.70; Mrs R. J. Ch’cas (Hornrata). eight at $25 to $4O, averaging $34: E. T. McDermott (Halswell), 21 at $22.50 to $45. averaging $29Mrs J A. Robertson (M«t”nank 13 at $22 to $27. averaging $24,45: S. R. irnvood (Cmitts Island). 14 at $17.50 to $lOO. averaging $28.50; and W. H. Oliver (Hororata), 16 at $2O to $26, averaging $22.

From an entry of 41 Hampshires. 33 were sold at auction, and the modest average of $2B was in line with the price trends for other breeds. No high prices were paid at any stage of the sale. Mrs G. Hughes, of Springston, topped the section with a single at $45. With nine selling from $lB to *he too price she averaged $27.80. R. J. Knowles and Son Palmerston), sold 12 at $32 to $37. to average $34.60, and J. C. Guinness (Ashburton), sold nine at $l9 to $3O to average $25.30. Over supply South Suffolk rams had a reasonable inquiry, but the supply appeared to be in excess of demand, and the sale tailed off in the closing stages. From the entry of 83, 63 were sold at auction for an average of $29, compared with $49.30 for 51 last Moore Brothers, of Timaru, who were offering sheep on their own behalf for the first time at Christchurch, topped the section with a single sheep at $7O. They also sold another single at $55. Sales included. —J. D. Galpin,

Ltd (Southbridge), 15 at $2O to[ $35, average $25.20; P. F. Boag! (Ashburton), nine at $27 to $42, average $3O; W. M. Early (Montalto). 18 at $25 to $42, averaging $2B; D. J. and J. Stewart! ! (Rakaia), 10 at $24.50 to 532, averaging $27.70; and H. C. Vanstone (Little River), 3 at $3O to I $35 averaging $31.25. , C. E. and L. F. Leighton (Wairnate) sold a single at $6O and! a pair at $45. Only 18 of an entry of 34 Poll Dorset rams found buyers at auction, but the average was a creditable $5O. More rams would have been sold had vendors been prepared to meet the market, but one or two of them held out for reserves which were fairly high on the day.

G. L. Johns, of Culverden, top-i ped the section with a pen of two at $65, and for an entry of five selling from $4O to the top price he averaged $53.50. Newton Brothers, of Little River, sold 10 at $45 to $54 to average $47.70; and S. M. Boon (Dunsandel), sold two at $57.50.

Only six Suffolk rams were offered, and all were sold at auction. C. Burrows (Culverden), sold a single at $55 and a pen of two at $4O, while the Pine Grove Suffolk Stud, of Amberley, sold two at $46, and a single at $39. The fair will conclude today with the sale of wool breed rams.