SALE OF IMPORTED SHEEP.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13175, 6 February 1936, Page 3

SALE OF IMPORTED SHEEP.

SOUTH DOW NS AT WELLINGTON. Breeders from all parts of New Zealand were present on Saturday ,at Wright, Stephenson and Co., Ltd.’s saleroom in Wellington to participate in tho sale of imported Southdown and Ry eland rams brought to New Zealand recently by Mr G. Fawkes, of Killeymoon, Bulls. The shipment comprised 19 Southdown rams and tlnee Ryelands, all of which were personally selected in England from the leading studs there by Mr Fawkes. .Prior to trenching New Zealand tho sheep were quarantined in Australia for three months. They entered tlie London quarantine station in New Zealand on January 31 last, the expenses involved over this period of six months mounting up to a very large sum. However,” substantial prices were paid by New Zealand breeders on Saturday at the sale, three of the older Southdovvns realising 25(J guineas or over apiece, and 0113 of the ram lambs realising over 200 guineas. Nine or the Southdown rams, rising two years old, averaged 174£ guineas each, and six. rising one year old, averaged 116£ guineas, while the three Rye.’and ram lambs averaged 70 guineas apiece. Three oi the Suuthdowns went to the Auckland province, two to Southland, two to Otago, one to Canterbury, one to Hawke's Bay, md six remain in the Wellington province ; while one of the Ryelands goes to Canterbury and two go to the Manawatu. The bargain of the sale, conducted by Wright, Stephenson and Co., Ltd., and Dalgety and Co., Ltd., is said to be the first ram sold, Sandringham 117 of 1934, bred by his late Majesty, King George V., which was bought by Ml- J. R. Set , Papatoetoe, Auckland, ioa* 250 guineas. This was a grand-headed ram and was one of the most symmetrical rams it would be possible to see. Another great ram was Luton Hoo 515 of 1934, bred by Lady Ludlow, i.uton Hoo, which was purchased by Messrs Ellis Bros., Killeymoon. Bulls, for 250 guineas. This was a very thick sheep, short on the leg, and both his sire and dam had been champions at the Royal Show of England. The top price of the sale was 200 guineas, paid for Luton Hoo 551 of 1934, also bred by Lady Ludlow, which was purchased bv Mr H. 15. Stuckey, <7O Massey College, Palmerston North. This was a magnificent ram, also sired by the Eng-. lish Royal champion, while the ram was himself a prize-winner at the Royal Show. One of the bargains of the sale was the purchase oi Upper Swell 25 o. 1934 at 150 guineas by Mr J. S. Hunt, ol Pembroke. This ram was a prize-wintiei’ at the Royal Show and had already sired prizewinning lambs at the Oxfordshire and Three Counties Show. Another good purchase was of the ram lamb, Sandringham 12 oi 1935, by Mr H. J. Andrews, of Maheno, at 150 guineas. This was a magnificent type, while his sire and dam’s sire were both Royal champions in England. The keenest bidding of the sale came near the end of the day, when the ram lamb, Upper Swell 54 of 1935, bred by Mr W. E. H. Hebbel.th waite, Upper Swell, entered the ring- This very well-balanced, lowset- ram was finally purchased by Mr W. Falconer, of the Southland Frozen Meat Co.*, Ltd., at 210 guineas, a great price for a ram of his age. Ho is full great blood. It was notable that previous buyers and importers of English Southdowns were very much in evidence at the sale, realising by past experience the value of high-class English blood. All tho Ryeland ram lambs realised the same money, Mr J. Red, of Ashhuirst, securing the Royal winning ram, Holmelacy Natty Man, while Messrs Dalgety and Co., Ltd., Christchurch, secured Holmelacy National, and Massey College secured Holmelacy Non-Stop.