Merino ram fetches $8300

Press, 10 January 1987, Page 3

Merino ram fetches $8300

The first national Merino rain sale, held at Wanaka on Thursday, saw a good clearance and a top price of $B3OO for a Malvern Downs ram, bred by Mr Robert Gibson, of Tarras. It was bought by the Levin branch of Elders Pastoral for an undisclosed buyer. Four other high-priced rams were bought by Pyne, Gould, Guinness Export for South American clients. The Estancia Teaka, Patagonia, Argentina paid $5OOO for a Cairnmuir ram, from B. J. Paterson, of Cromwell. Mr David Cassells, of P.G.G. bought three rams for the Successors of Eduardo Mattos, of Uruguay. They were a Grampians ram, from the Hope Bros, Fairlie, for $3500; a

Cleardale ram from J. R. Todhunter and Sons, Rakaia, for $6500; and an Awapiri ram, from G. M. and B. J. Black, of Blenheim for $4OOO. The first national Merino sale was organised by the Central Otago Stud Merino Breeders’ Association and held at the Criffel Park deer selling complex of Mr Tim Wallis. Twenty-one stud Merino breeders sold 63 rams for an aggregate of just over $lOO,OOO. Ten were passed in. The sale average was $1626. A spokesman for the organisers, Mr Robert Jopp, said the export demand had helped prices for medium to strong combing wool Merinos, bui there was no doubt buyers were mainly in-

terested in the fine and super fine offerings. The gallery was full to overflowing on a very hot Central Otago day. Mr Jopp expects the sale will become an annual one. Among the successful vendors were: Moutere station, Alexandra, one each at $3500, $2OOO, $l4OO and $1000; B. J. Paterson, Cromwell, one each at $5OOO, $lOOO, $750 and $600; A. D. and C. T. Paterson, Ranfurly, one each at $l5OO, $l2OO, $9OO, $7OO and $500; Mrs A. P. Bennett, Swannanoa, one at $950 and one at $600; C. J. Hore, Patearoa, $l4OO and $1100; P. S. Molineux, Blenheim, $3OOO and $700; Stevenson Bros, Rangiora, $lOOO, $950, and two at $700; Richmond Brook

Seddon, one at $1000; R. W. Gibson, Tarras, one each at $B3OO, $4300, $6OOO, and two each at $lOOO and $850; G. M. and B. J. Black, Blenheim, $4OOO and $1800; W. H. Gibson, Tarras, $2lOO, $2OOO, $1500; D. Urquhart and Sons, Fairlie, $l7OO and $1500; I. D. - Smith, Ranfurly, $l2OO, $llOO, $lOOO, $950 and $800; A. E. van Asch, Seddon, $1500; J. H. Burdon, Wanaka, $lOOO and $600; G. F. Bishop, Kurow, $2OOO, two at $BOO and two at $750; Hope Bros, Fairlie, $3500, $lO5O, $BOO, $7OO and $600; T. J. Nelson, Cave,-$l6OO and $1300; J. R. Todhunter and Sons, Rakaia Gorge, $6500 and $l3OO, Waitiri Station, Cromwell, $1150; and N. E. Giles, Blenheim, $9OO and $6OO.