Successful opening to flock ram fair

Press, 29 January 1982, Page 7

Successful opening to flock ram fair

A similarity between buying power and the number of rams offered ensured the first day of the annual Canterbury flock ram fair was a success. Mutton breeds were offered yesterday and these sold very well. Of the 296 rams offered. 62 per cent were sold at auction and a fair percentage of those passed in were later sold privately. The key to the success of the sale was the size of the entry. Last year too many were -offered and the buying power was not strong enough. This year the demand for every breed, except Southdowns, improved during each breed sale, indicating the demand slightly exceeded the supply. Buyers'were mainly local, although South Canterbury buyers made a real difference to the Dorset Down and Suffolk sales. The Dorset Down breed had the best of the sale with 87 per cent of the 67 rams offered being sold at auction. The average price was $l6O, compared with last years average of $B9 for 38 out of 83 sheep offered. .The top price was $260 paid for three rams from D.O. Masefield and Sons (Goughs Bay). The Masefields had a successful sale, selling 18 rams at an average of $lBl. * H. Dalziel (Waipara) sold two rams for $2OO and one for $l6O. A. H; Busch (Prebbleton) sold six rams at an average of $173. with a top price of $230. G. R. and K. M. Millar (Southbridge) averaged $l7l for nine rams, including three at $2OO. and H. C. and G. C. G. Abbott (Southbridge) sold eight at an average of $143. R. J. King (Pendarves) sold three rams at $l7O and two at $l5O, and Mrs R. J. Clucas (Hororata)

sold two at $lOO and five at $9O. Eighteen of the 24 South Dorset Down rams offered were sold at an average of $123. Last year only 28 per cent of the 74 rams offered sold for an average price of $B7. A. A. and L. W. Ellis (Amberlev) gained the top price of $l6O for two rams, ana sold three others for $l4O. R. J.' King (Pendarves) sold nine rams for an average of $124. including three sales at $145. .The Fincham Trust (Hawarden) sold four rams at $9O each. An average price of $137 was paid for the 16 Poll Dorset rams sold out of the 26 offered. The average last year was $Bl for 22 rams sold out of 49. The top price was $l6O gained by R H. and J. O. Davies (Waiau) for three rams. They sold two other rams for $140.' Other rams sold for $l4O included three from T. B. and B. G. Jordan (Culverden). two from G. G. and B. M. Gilbert (Southbridge) and one each from R. J. and N. F. Chapman (Waikari) and L. and A. F. Edge (Cheviot). A. W. Phillips (Darfield) sold two at $135.

South Suffolks had a high clearance rate. Only eight of the 62 offered were passed in and the remaining 54 averaged $llB compared with $95 for the 36 sold last year. The sale for South Suffolks started well an values improved as the breed was offered. Better prices were paid for vendors selling later. H. C. Vanstone (Little River) was the most successful vendor. He averaged $145 for six. with a top price of $l9O. Mr Vanstone’s sales ranged form $l2O to $l9O.

D. J. and J. D. Stewart (Ashburton) sold 17 rams between $9O

and $l3O and J. A. brown (Ashburton) five from $llO to $l2O. The demand for Suffolks was not as strong. The average for the 32 sold- at auction was $146 compared with $lO3 for 39 last year. Yesterday 21 were passed in. J. T. Miles (Ashburton) received the top price, $2OO. for a single ram and the remaining four sold between $l5O and $l7O. D. M.. and J. D. Stowell (Ashburton) had a Consistent sale of Suffolks, selling 10 between $llO and $l9O for an average of $144. Southdowns were the one exception yesterday. Some satisfactory sales were recorded but only eight of the 68 offered sold at auction compared with 24 of the 117 offered last year. Yesterday the average was $lll, last vear $B5. L. A. Christey (Southbridge) was easily the most ■ successful breeder. This vendor sold two at 5150 and one at $l4O. Other sales ranged down to $B5.