SHEEPBREEDING MARKET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18949, 21 February 1925, Page 7

SHEEPBREEDING MARKET.

MASTERTQN RAM FAIR. EWE PRICES AT FEILDING. [BY TELEGRAPH.- PRESS ASSOCIATION-.] MASTERTON. Friday. The Masterton ram fair concluded to-day With :in offering of Southdowns. Lineolns and Corriedales. Southdowns were in demand but the operators had a defined limit with the result that vendors met the market and some cheap sheep were secured. Air. Q. Donald topped the market for flocks with 20gns, while the total offerin" averaged a boat 12sns. The highest, price in studs was secured by Mr. H. J. Andrew, of Waihemo Downs, Otago, a Bhearling sold to Mr. C. J. Hawken, of Taranaki, realising 50gns. Lincoln stijda were entirely neglected, while the market for flocks was erratic and passings were numerous. The top price was lSJgns. Corriedales, Shropshires and English Leicesters were not inquired for. FEILDING. Friday, At the Feilding annual ewe fair to-day a yarding of 18.000 was offered to a very large attendance of buyers. The majority of the ewes were quite up to the excellent standard established at this fixture, very few pens of inferior sheep being seen and for those competition was not spirited. On the other hand older sheep showing any q-uality were eagerly competed for and sold at prices well over those ruling last, year, and above those of any previous sale this season. As usual two-tooth ewes were the feature of the sale and were catalogued in larger proportion than usual. The demand, however, was very disappointing, the prices bid beiiitr _ well below, last year's realisations. This was particularly noticeable in small specially selected lines of Bomneys, the top price for which was £3, obtained by Messrs, Nelson Bros, (last year J! 8 10s), Larger lines of good average two-tooth sold relatively better, this class fetching from 37s to 'its, while selected pen* made from £2 to .£3. Good mixed aged. ewes sold at from 35s 9d to 36s 9d: good six-tooths, 3Sa to 10s; good four and six-tooth, 35s to 435; best four-year ewes. 31s fid to 38s; good four and five-year ewes. 32s to 365: inferior quality four and five-year, 25s to 31s; medium two-tooths. 80s to 355.