ANNUAL RAM AND EWE FAIR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2664, 5 April 1905, Page 11

ANNUAL RAM AND EWE FAIR.

Messrs "Wright, Stephenson, and Co. report as follows: — There was a fairly good entry for this annual fixture, he!d at +ne Burnside sale2"ards on the 23th. Bolder Leicesters, the favourite breed in Olago, as usual predominated. Th:j demand for thit class of sheep has been stronger this season than for many years past, every part of the colony participating in it. The same in a minor degree may j>e said of the Eoniney Marsh breed. Many ■breeders usually represented pt the Burnside fair were unrepresented by their sheep in both these c'asses, having previously sold privately their annual drafts to supply orders mainly from tha north of the Waitaki. This no doubt was the principal reason why the quality of the sheo-p offered on Tuesday was not quite up tc the standard of former fairs. There were, of course, exceptions, where the quality and condition of come of the stud and flock ranis in the Border Leicester section left nothing to be desired. The demand for both studs and flocks was good, and almost every ram entered was sold, stude at up to 16Jgs, and flocks a.t up to ssgs. The sale of this class was greatly* benefited by the presence of a northern buyer. The few Romney Marsh lambs forward were good, and sold readily at from 3gs to 10gs. English Leicesrters •were ixo.t in demand, and sold in buyers' favour. Lincoln and Shropshire rams were unrepresented. Of Carriedales and halfbreds there were two entries of the f former and one of the- latter, bat, excepting for a few of the best of the former, the demand -was disappointing. As stated", the best of the Ccrricdales was in request, studs fetching up to Bgs, and flocks to sgs. The following were the entries: — Border Leicester rams, 339; English Leicester rams, 32; Romney Marsh rams, 54; Corriedale rams, 70; halfbred Tfims, 31. Our sa!es weie sis follow : — Border Leicester Breed. Studs. — For Messrs M'Kerchar Bro3. (Woodlands) — i one-shear rams at lGJgs, 14gs. 13gs, and 12Jgs respectively ; for MrDavid Murray (Glenfa'.loch) — 3 one and two-shear rams at from sgs to Sgs ; for Mr James Gow (Inverraay) — 1 prize three-shear ram at a hi^h Sg-ure (withhold;, for Mr James W. Blair (AbbotsfoTd) — 6 two-shear rams a.t 4-|gs to sgs ; for Mr Alexander Murdoch (A'trive) — 2 oneehear rams at s*gs; for Mr Donald Gunn (SandyiEount) — 1 three-shear ra?n (bred by Grieve) at a satisfactory figure. Flocks.— For Mr William. Grey (Milburn)— 11 first-cks3 one-shear rams at i;gs to s|gs ; for Mr David Murray (G!enfa!!och).--22 two and three-shear r?.ms (excellent sheep) at 4gs to sgs; lor the New Zealand and Australian Lend Compgny (Ciydeva'e)— 30 two-fooih rams (n?ce sheep, but not in such good condition as is usual with this flock) at up to <P,gs ; for Mr James Gow (Invermay) — IS one-shear rams (privatelyj at a good price; for Mr Alexander Murdoch (Altrive) — S one-=hsar wms at 3i«- s • for Mr Allen S. Oibell (The Kivey)— 50 o°neshear rams at 3i?s to 4J S s (bred by T. H. Eussell;; for Mr John Miller (ilaun^atua)— 40 o-je and two-shear rams (privately, a~t full prices) ; for Mr Thomas Muir (Waihemo Mains) 10 one-shear rams at 3gs to 3Jgs. Eomney Maksh Breed. I

Studs.— For Messrs Bealey Bros. (Horora*a)—3 one-shear rams (wrivately 1 ) at lops each ; for Mr John Miller (Maungatua)— 1 oneshear ram at Bgs. Flocks. — For the same breeder— 6 two three ana four-sheaT rams at 3igs to 4gs each; for Mr James Miller (M-iungatua)— 1 aged ram at 2|gs.

COUEIEDALES. Fiocks.— For Mr Leonard "White (Ftakaia)— * 3/p ne, two, and three-shear flock rams at up to 3Jgs.

Studs.— For Jlr David Murray (G]enfallccli)—i stud (Stringfellow strain) at sJgs to Bgs.

Halfbkeds

For Messrs R. Campbell and Sons (Otekaike)— 15 one-shear flocks at 2Jgs.

Messrs Donald Beid and Co. report as follow?:—The annual ram and ewe fair was held at Burnside Yards on Tuesday. The entries were fairly numerous, about " 510 rams and 95 ewes being penned, made up as follows: 327 Border Leicesters, 32 English Leicesters, SO Rozaneys, and 101 Corriedales. There was a fairly large attendance of flock-owners, breeders, and others interested in the sales, and. for all breeds there were buyers present ; but the principal demand was for Border 1/eicesters, all of this defcription on the catalogue being keenly competed for, in almost every case realising prices*" that must have been very gratifying to the owners. The highest price paid for flock rams during the day was s*gs, this figure being secured by Mr Win. Grey, of Milburn, for a pen of very nice Border Loices^ters. The few Koinneys for-v-ard were well competed for at up to 3gs for flock rams. English Leicesters and Corriedales had not so much attention, but very few pens were turned out unsold. The only entry of ewes was of the Ttoraney breed, and all of them changed hands at prices ranging from l^gs to Ijg3. Our sales were as follow: — On account Mr Wm. Grey (Milburu) — 20 Border Leicester rams at sgs to 4gs; on account Mr John Miller (Mauzsgatua) — S Border Leicester rams at 2Jgs ; account Mt J. H. Allan (Holmes) — 7 Border Leicester ranis at s£gs to 2Jgs ; account Mr James Milne (Taieri Beach) — 2 Border Leicester rams at l^gs ; account Mr JJ. Murray (Warepa) — • 4 Bomney rams at 3gs, 14 Bomney ram lambs at 2gs, 87 Ronmey ewes at llgs to l|gs, 10 Ecmney ewe lambs at ljgs.

Messrs Dalgety and Co. report as follows: — The annual ram_ and ewe fair was held at Buriiside Cattle iTards on Tuesdry. the 28th inst., when the entry comprised 340 Border Leicester. 25 English Leicester, 15 Ronrney, and 65 CorriedaLe rams, and. 95 Romney ewes. The sale was one of the best of its kind for years, and the splendid prices obtained for long- wool] eel rams must have proved highly satisfactory to the breeders The attendance was fairly large, and included farmers from Central Otago and the south Well bred Border Leicesters were in special request, and any pens •which, were in good condition and we'll brought out sold readily at 4Jgs to sgs. Eomneys were also inquired, for, but as the entry of these -was small, buyers had either to~supply their requirements from other breeds or look elsewhere for their supply. "We sold j> 3 follows : — Bred by Mr David Murray (YVarapa) — 6 two-tooth Border-Leicester rams at sgs, 16 do at 4£gs, 10 do at 4gs ; bred by Mr James Blair (Outram) — 10 two-tooth Border Leice&ter rams at 4^gs, 10 do at 4|gs ; bred by Mr John Miller (Maungatua) — 5 two aitd- fourtoot.il Borders at 3Jgs, 1 six-tooth <3o at 3gs ; bred by Mr James Ress (Kartigi) — 8 four-tooth Border Leicester rams at 4\gs, 16 do at IJgs, S do at ags.

The Otago Farmers' Co-operative Association of Nevr Zealand x (Limited) report having- lielcl their annual sale Of stud and flock sheep at the Burnside 3 - ards on Tuesday the 28th mst. There was the usual attendance of farmers and flock masters. Buyers were not very numeious, "but most of those present were intent on busiress, and all suitable lines were easily disposed of at fairly satisfactory values. Border I/eicesters were most- sought after. Eomneyg ■sssro a-lso in jjeod demand, English Leicesters

being hard to quit We sold stud Borders lor Mr A. Murdoch. at sgs, Border flocks at 3fgs. and l-'.nglish Leicesteis to Sgs