Record price for ram

Press, 22 January 1988, Page 9

Record price for ram

A New Zealand record auction price for a poil Dorset ram of 515,000 was set in Christchurch yesterday. The ram was bought at the fifteenth national and South Island poll Dorset sales at the Canterbury Showgrounds by Gene-Pacific, Ltd, a Gorebased animal exporter and breeding specialist. The record-breaking ram will become the foundation sire for a New Zealand venture to establish a North American sheep breeding and meat production industry in Canada. The ram was bred by R. H. Potter and Sons, of Gore, and was placed second in the premier poll Dorset class at the 1987 Royal and Canterbury A. and P. Show. Mr David Cassells, the stud and bloodstock manager for Pyne, Gould, Guinness International, Ltd, and an international judge of stud stock, said the ram had the best conformation he had ever seen. Five syndicated buyers bid on the ram and the price quickly surpassed the previous record of $9500 set in 1984. The ram is considered to be larger than normal and leaner than most New Zealand sheep — a characteristic preferred by North American consumers. It will arrive in Canada in time for the 1988 spring breeding season. Yesterday’s sales also included Hamphsire, Dorset Down, and South Dorset stud rams and poll Dorset and Hampshire stud ewes. Mr Frank O’Reilly of P.G.G. said the top selection of all breeds of rams sold particularly well. The number of inquiries and steady demand was an encouraging sign for breeders, and buyers seemed content with the prices.

He estimated that over-all prices were up on recent years by about 15 per cent. Although several lots were passed in during the auction,

very few left the showgrounds unsold. The average price of $1946 for poll Dorset rams was a substantial improvement on last year’s $1439 — and almost a return to the good prices of $2OOO made in previous years. Twenty-three of the 33 rams offered at auction were sold compared with only 14 out of 41 last year.

The second highest prices paid for poll Dorset rams were $4OOO each for two rams from T. P. Lowe and Son, of Ashburton. A ram judged fourth premier ram hogget at the 1987 Royal Show, bred by N. C. Greenwood, of Ellesmere, sold for $2500 and another from P. S. Ponsonby, of Waimate, for $1750.

Other poll Dorset prices included $llOO, $lOOO and $9OO, N. C. Greenwood, Ellesmere; $l2OO, $750 and $6OO, S. M. Boon and Son, Dunsandel; $lOOO, V. R. Copland and Son, Ashburton; $l4OO and $l6OO, A. M. Mcllraith, Leeston; $6OO, A. J. and D. A. Brown, Oamaru; $l3OO, R. H. Potter and Son; $l3OO, G. G. and B. M. Gilbert, Leeston; $llOO, D. C. McCall and Sons, Invercargill; $6OO, G. Hibbard, Amberley; $llOO, G. W. Letham, Ashburton; $6OO, A. H. McCall Partnership, Gore; and $6OO, G. S. Donald, Rangiora. The top price paid for two stud poll Dorset ewes of $BOO each went to R. J. and N. F. Chapman of Waikari. The average price for stud ewes was $592 and 15 of the 16 ewes were sold. Other prices included $3OO and $2OO, John Chambers, Southbridge; $125, S. M. Boon and Son; $l5O, $l7O, $l7O and $lBO, T. P. Lowe and Co. Twenty-seven Dorset Downs averaged $ll6l while 17 did not sell. The top price was $3lOO for a ram from A. M. and J. M. Turnbull, Kelso, who sold other rams at $lOOO and $6OO. Mrs Suzanne Stewart, Gore, sold one Dorset Down at $3OOO, John Dodd, Oamaru, one at $2BOO, H. C. and G. C. G. Abbott, Leeston, one at $2OOO. H. Dalziel, Amberley, $1750 and $1000; D. M. and J. D. Stowell, Ashburton, $6OO to $1600; D. O. Masefield and

Sons, Gough Bay, $600; H. M. and D. H. King, Ashburton, $6OO to $l7OO and Fletcher glssßrothers, Heriot, $6OO to $l4OO.

Other Dorset Down rams were sold by W. E. Bain, Millers Flat, $6OO, $600; R. J. and G. J. King, Ashburton, $600; Stevenson Brothers, Fernside, $1000; A. H. McCall Partnership, Gore $700; G. J. and S. J. Letham, Ashburton, $700; Leylands Pastures, Ashburton, $600; A. C. Wilton, Pahiatua $600; and A. J. R. Johnston, Cust, $6OO. A Hampshire ram from B. J. Brenssell, Tapanui, was bought for $lBOO for export to Argentina. The average price for 11 Hampshire rams was $9lB (compred with $790 last year) and seven rams were passed. W. R. Thayer, Gore, sold one Hampshire at $lBOO and a second at $lOOO. A. R. and B. Gordon, Milton, $l2OO and $600; J. C. and J. L. Buchanan, Dipton, $7OO and $600; C. V. Saunders and Sons, Ashburton, $600; A. J. McLeod, Invercargill, $6OO, J. L. Allison, Invercargill, $6OO, and M. E. Lay, Ashburton, $6OO. Four Hampshire ewes averaged $425 with A. R. and B. Gordon receiving prices of $650 and $325, and W. R. Thayer $450 and $275. Mrs Janet Dysart’s top quality ram fetched the premier price of $2400 for South Dorsets. Only six of the 12 South Dorset lots were sold and the prices were $6OO, M. I. and K. J. Donaldson; $6OO, $6OO G. J. and F. M. Sidey; $6OO, Kenmore Farms; and $5OO, H. M. and D. H. King.