CANTERBURY RAM FAIR

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19890, 18 March 1939, Page 17

CANTERBURY RAM FAIR

SOUTHDOWNS MAKE 100GHS A DRAGGING SAI.H (Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, this day. The annual stud ram fair of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association was held yesterday. The best sheep in most of the breeds were sold under keen competition, but a moderate quality met with a dragging sale and prices were low and passings frequent. ‘The top price was lOOgns. for Southdowns, with a number of other quality South-downs making down to 45gns. and average sorts round about 25gns. Southdowns were the only breed in which competition was brisk throughout. Tlie best Corriedales sold at from GOgns. to 80gns., but the average was from lOgns, to 20gns., with numerous passings. English Leicesters were in oversupply, and, with the exception of half a dozen rams, the prices generally i ranged from lOgns. to 15gns., with the passings again heavy. After a very keen sale the preceding day l'or flock Romneys, the surprise of the day was the poor sale of Romneys yesterday. The top price was 41gns.. with oniy a few rams making more than 25gns. The entry of! Romneys came from various districts in Wairarapa and Manawatu, Nelson, Blenheim, Otago and Southland. The top price was for a Southland ram. The poor sale is attributed to the small number of Romney studs in Canterbury. The best Border Leicester price was 45gns. This breed did not create much competition, but a few Lincolns sold at from 20gns. to 32igns. A consignment of Merinos from Victoria was offered, but it elicited little competition. The trend of the sale was distinctly in favour of lamb breeds, finewoolled rams, except for a small proportion of the best, being at a discount.