Draft ewes draw encouraging response

Press, 5 February 1987, Page 19

Draft ewes draw encouraging response

Several lines of well-known annual draft ewes from North Canterbury drew an encouraging response from farmers at the Addington market yesterday. These regular consignments, which are sold about this time every year, provide an indication of the likely demand for breeding ewes in the approaching ewe fair season.

The market was led by a line of Corriedales from A. S. and B. R. Black, of Culverden, who received prices up to $l9 for four-year-old ewes (compared with up to $18.30 last year), and $18.20 for five-year-olds ($12.50).

Annual draft Corriedales from P. J. and J. A. Hoban, Culverden, made $16.20 and a line of five-year-olds from D. G. Edge, Oxford, sold at $14.90.

Most ewes in reasonable order ranged from $9 to $l4, with better-quality sheep at $l5 to $l9. Light fatteningtype ewes were $4 to $7, and a pen of two-shear Merino wethers made $18.20. Among two-tooths, a tidy line of early-shorn Romneys made $2B, while medium sheep were generally $l6 to $2l.

The store lamb market lacked the buoyancy which had contributed to last week’s strong sale, but. values were generally sound and on a par with prices of recent weeks. The dry conditions are keeping many regular lamb buyers away, even though farmers are well into the harvest season.

Top lambs generally fetched $lB to $2l, mediums were $l2 to $l6 and small lambs made $7 to $9.

Sales included:— Lambs: W. H. Cederman (Oxford), 278 rams at $12.40 to $16.20; W. R. Claydon (Lyttelton), 360 at $7.60 to $15.40; G. W. and M. A. Parsons (Kaikoura), 372 wethers at $l3 to $18; D. P. de Pass (Kaituna), 88 at $10.80; Harland Partnership (Parnassus), 127 at $7.40 to $10.20; P. A. de Pass (Kaituna), 133 at $11.20 to $13.40; Overton and Foster (Scargill), 348 Corriedale ewes at $9.60 to $13.40; T. A. McKenzie (Hororata), 197 Romney and Romney cross ewes at $12.80 to $13.70;' G. W. and M. A. Parsons (Kaikoura), 170 Romney ewes at $lO to $12.80. Adult sheep: A. S. and B. R. Black (Culverden), 470 fouryear Corriedales at $18.20 to $l9, and 141 five-year at $18.20; P. J. and J. A.,Hoban. (Culverden), 156 annual draft

Corriedales at $16.20; D. G. Edge (Oxford), 363 five-year Corriedales at $14.90; Estate W. N. Masefield (Kekerengu), 268 annual draft Corriedales at $14.20 to $15.50; Cons Hill Partnership (Hurunui), 133 annual draft Corriedales at $l2; Blytheburn Partnership’ (Blythe Valley), 523 annual draft Corriedales at $12.80 to $13.80.

Cattle: W. Reilly (Cust), 7 two-year Friesian steers at $428; Patagonia Farm (Okuku), 16 18-month Friesian bulls at $342; S. H. and S. J. Foster (Omihi), 12 twoyear steers at $452 to $462; Holmdale Holdings (Rakaia), 64 two-year steers at $360 to $450, and 29 heifers at $246 to $290; J. W. and M. Cottier (Waiau), 76 yearling Angus steers at $3lB to $342; Cora Lynn Partnership (Cass), 8 yearling Hereford steers at

$320, and 12 heifers at $266; P. J. McKay (Le Bons Bay)’ 13 Angus and Angus cross steers at $338, and 21 heifero at $264 to $278; R. R. Warbur® ton (Kaikoura), 13 20-montii; Maine Anjou steers at $396. i