High ewe prices surprise

Press, 11 March 1988, Page 16

High ewe prices surprise

A shortage of breeding stock in North Canterbury saw prices at most ewe fairs increase substantially this year.

Large live sheep export orders, filled from North Canterbury |in the last year, was’! one of the reasons for the shortage.

Poor returns for meat but a sound wool market also meant many farmers held on to some of their older ewes for longer to

produce more wool. This was made possible by a mild winter and good growing season with few prolonged dry periods. The shortage resulted in yardings at most fairs being much smaller than in previous years. The shortage was coupled with an increase in demand through more farmers switching from cropping to meat and wool farming. Romneys and Corrie-

dales, as dual purpose sheep, dominated the fairs. All the fairs had large ■'galleries, which included many active buyers, and prices increased by $5 to $lO over all on last year. The higher prices caught many by surprise and some potential buyers left the earlier sales empty-handed. Prices settled as the season progressed. Several sales had pens

of two-tqoths which sold at $4O or more with one exceptional pen selling at Hawarden for $51.25. Below I that level was a vast number of two-tooths which sold between 535 and $4O: Prices.! of §3O or more for adult ewes were reached; at several sales with a [ solid underlying tone created by many sales b'etween $25 and $3O. i