Dairy sales draw good inquiry

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33857, 31 May 1975, Page 22

Dairy sales draw good inquiry

Good prices were again paid at some of the autumn dairy sales in Canterbury this season, although the turnover at some sales was down on last year.

The annual sale held by, Messrs N. J. Sherriff and] Sons, of Temuka, again drew] widespread inquiry, and ai regular Australian buyer purchased five head. Twenty-five cows and heifers averaged $530.80. The top price was $ll5O, paid by S. W. and B. J. Woolley, of Blenheim, for a two-year-old heifer from a cow which at eight years had produced 7501 b of butterfat. M. J. Vallence and Sons, of Bacchus Marsh (Victoria), purchased four heifers, two of them at $lOOO and $llOO. Twelve bulls averaged $755, four of them at $lOOO or better. The top price of $1350 was paid for two yearlings, one going to the bid of Messrs Vallence and Sons, and the other to M. B. Dickie, of Edendale. i Twenty-five cows and hei- ' fers offered at the annual i sale of J. M. Hewson, of I Seadown, produced an average of $3BB. The top price was $625 for an eight-year-old cow which in each of the previous three seasons had produced more than 7001 b of butterfat.

Eight bulls from the same vendor averaged $236, top price being $360. J. J. and J. A. Geddes, of Tai Tapu, again had a good sale. Twenty-eight heifers and cows from their Tahora Level averaged $620, and 13 bulls $Bll. Gross turnover for the sale was almost $28,000.

The top priced cow went to M. Sowter, of New South Wales, at $1550, and there were other sales of females at $lO5O and $1025. Bulls sold >.o $2500, and, with the average running at more than $BOO, it was rated as probably the best dairy sale of the season in the country.

Fifteen cattle from the Romanac herd of T. H. and B. M. Jones (Springston), sold at $3OO to $lO5O, the average for female cattle being $720, and for bulls, $487. Twenty-four cattle from the Matawai herd of E. G. Robertson and Sons (Springston), averaged $241, the top price being $430. Twenty-eight cattle were offered at a sale held on account of E. A. Gillman, of “Pinevale,” Rangiora, and the average *or 24 sold was more than $295.

Twenty-one females aged $297, with a top price of $460, and three bulls averaged $283, with a top price of $350. As with most sales, buying inquiry came from widespread parts of the South Island, and one lot was purchased for Rotorua. PIGS IN DEMAND Pig breeders from Feilding to Invercargill showed strong interest in the annual sale held this month on] account of Mr G. W. Tim-i perley, of Courts Island. The offering comprised 45 pedigree gilts and boars, and 48 commercial gilts, which produced an aggregate of almost $25,000. Feature prices included a Landrace boar at $B5O, and three mated Welsh gilts at $725 to $B5O. It was the first time the vendor had offered mated Welsh gilts for sale. Details of the sale included:—

Pedigree pigs. — Ten Large White gilts at $l7O to $360, averaging $294; 3 unmated Large White gilts at $270 to $3OO, averaging $287; 13 Landrace gilts at $240 to $540, averaging $347; three Large Wh < boars at $2OO to $625, averaging $345; 9 Landrace boars at $l2O to $B5O, averaging $338; 4 Welsh boars at $375 to $640, averaging $5lO. Commercial gilts. — 37 of varying crosses at $l4O to $260. averaging $192; 11 empty gilts at $BO to $llO, averaging $92.70.