Strong ewe sale

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34095, 6 March 1976, Page 7

Strong ewe sale

Considering the heavy turnover in breeding ewes at district fairs and Addington market during the last three weeks, the Sheffield ewe fair on Thursday was better than expected. When related to the lower pattern of values that has developed. the two-tooth ewe sale was good, and the adult sheep sale, while not as strong as at earlier fairs, was sound throughout. The two-tooths at this year’s fair were much better grown than usual, and there were no tail-end lots. The fair opened under limited competition, but as the buying gallery built up. there was a worth-while improvement, and most ewes were SI to 51.50 ahead of Addington rates the previous day. A pleasing feature of the twotooth section was the good competition from regular downcountry buyers. A survey of 19 pens of twotooths. compared with 21 pens from the same vendors last year, showed an improvement of 27 per cent on last year’s prices. The top price was $19.40 for a pen of 98 Corriedales from C. W. Reed and Son (Dalethorpe). Last year’s top-priced two-tooths from the same vendors fetched $12.70. Good average two-tooths sold steadily at $14.70 to Sl6. with medium at $13.50 to $14.50, and small down to $ll. The tussock properties fronting the Waimakariri basin were among the principal vendors, and a good illustration was the market for the annual line from the estate J. Milliken (Brooksdale). Numbering 815 head, thev sold at $12.60 to $16.10,. for a pen average of $14.70. compared with a pen average of almost $ll last year ADULT EWES Adult ewes met a very sound sale, although with the general steady pattern of values there were a few high prices. Considering mat many thousands of ewes have already changed hands this season, the level of values was most satisfactory. Some of the main lines of ewes at Sheffield carry a little much condition for some buyers, and for this reason some of the early pens did not fetch as. much as expected. But. over-all. it was

rated as a very satisfactory market. « The top price was 513.60 for a pen of 136 annual draft earlyshorn Romneys from J. R. Collier, of Annat. Grasmere Station (Cass), obtained the top price for finewooled lines with 205 annual draft Corriedales at $13.20. This was the sale of the day, for as a tussock line, they were in heavy condition. C. W, Reed and Son (Dalethorpe*. who topped the sale last ' year at $10.50, sold 266 four-year-old Corriedales at §13.10. The top cut of four-year-olds from the Milliken Estate fetched $12.60, and a number of the other annual lines reached or bettered $l2 Most of the adult ewes showed a useful rise on last year’s rates. A comparison of 18 pens with 15 pens from the same vendors last year showed a lift of 22 per cent. Generally, the ewe which sold at $8 to $9 last year, sold at $ll to $l2 this year. Farmers from down-country districts provided the bulk of the competition. A few penst were bought for districts north of the Waimakariri, and most of the Merinos went to a Parnassus buyer. This year’s yarding was 12.760, compared with 11,175 last year. It consisted of 4450 two-tooth ewes (4185 last year), and 8310 adult sheep (6990 last year). A selection of sales included, all sheep being halfbred unless otherwise stated: TWO-TOOTH EWES Pyne Gould Guinness, Ltd, sold on account of: Estate J. Milliken (Brooksdale), 84 at $16.10, 120 at $14.80. 120 at $16.20, 197 at $15.10, 115 at $13.70, 60 at $12.60, 119 at ?13.60; C. W. Reed and Son (Dalethorpe), 93 Corriedales at $lB.BO, 98 at $19.40, 100 at $14.80, 69 at $13.60; Annavale Trust (Springfield). 94 Corriedales at $14.30, 111 at $14.70, 85 at $14.10, 95 at $13.40; Ayrdale Estate (Springfield). 90 at $12.90, 72 at $12.30. 59 at $12.10; Mount Torlesse Station (Springfield), 114 at $14.40. ;99 at S 14.80, 154 at $14.40. 98 at I $12.90: High Peak Station (Rakaia i Gorge), 60 at §12.20, 61 at $12.60. The New Zealand Farmers' Co- ; operative Association sold on account of: Benmore Graziers (Springfield). 109 Corriedales at | $16.40, 88 at $16.20. 103 at $15.20. *ll3 at $14.60.

Wrightson NMA, Ltd, sold on account of: F. A. Bull (Sheffield), 84 Corriedales at $l4. 77 at $15.20, 75 at 513.80, 37 at $11.60; J. C. Brooker (Kirwee), 74 Corriedales at $lB. 54 at §17.10, 74 at $18.20. 45 at $l5; Castle Hill Run Company (Porters Pass}, 70 at 511.20, 61 at $l3; Roy Robindale <Te Pirita), 107 romneys at $14.80, 115 at $l6; Narranda Farm (Russells Flat), 118 Perendales at $12.60, 82 at $12.80. 75 at $12.20, 63 at $11.90. Dalgety New Zealand, Ltd sold on account of: S. E. and F. E. King (Springfield), 68 Romneys at $13.60, 61 at $13.40, 70 at $14.70; Faulkner Brothers (Kowai Bush). 96 at §12.60, 109 at 514.30. ADULT SHEEP Dalgety New Zealand, Ltd, sold on account- of: Grasmere Station (Cass), 205 annual draft Corriedales at $13.20, 238 at §11.40, 200 at $10.90, 1.54 at $9; K. Bunn (View Hill), 282 Romneys at $8.60. 253 at $7.10; S. E. and F. E. King (Springfield), 149 Romneys at $7. Pyne Gould Guinness, Ltd, sold on account of: Mount Torlesse Station (Springfield), 283 four-year-olds at $12.30, 143 at $11.90, 380 five-year-olds at $10.90; C. W. Reed and Son (Dalethorpe), 266 four-year-old Corriedales at $13.10, 236 at $12.30, 213 at $11.60: L. A. Ferguson (Baldoon), 258 four-year-old Romneys at $l2; Estate J. Milliken (Brooksdale). 150 four-year-olds at $12.60, 154 at $12.20, 326 at $11.50, 105 five-year-olds at $ll 3 200 at $10.80; High Peak Station (Rakaia Gorge), 224 five-year-olds at $lO.lO, 187 at $7.60; Ayrdale Estate (Springfield), 139 five-year-olds at $10.40: F. and L. Westenra (Craigieburn), 314 four-year-olds at $B, 140 annual draft Merinos at $6.40: Mount White Station (Cass), 230 Merino wethers at $6.70. 96 at $6.30, 178 annual draft Merino ewes at $7. 263 at $7.40. 154 at $7.50. Wrightson NMA, Ltd, sold on account of: Castle Hill Run Company (Porters Pass). 288 four-year-olds at $lO.BO. 122 five-year-olds at $8; J. R. Collier (Russells Flat), 136 annua] draft Romneys at $13.60. 83 at $12.60. The New Zealand Farmers* Cooperative Association sold on account of: Benmore Graziers (Springfield), 237 annual draft Corriedales at $l2. 148 at $lO, 172 at $10.70.