RECORD SHEEP FAIR

Taranaki Daily News, 8 February 1934, Page 6

RECORD SHEEP FAIR

FIXTURE AT KOHURATAHI. 7000 MEET GOOD DEMAND. The first of a series of February sheep fairs in the eastern districts from Whangamomona to Ohura saw fully 7000 sheep converge yesterday on Newton King, Ltd.’s saleyards at Kohuratahi from the Whangamomona, Kohuratahi and Tahora areas. Contrasted with last year’s Kohuratahi fair the sale revealed much that was pleasing to vendors. The offering was the largest ever penned in the yards, and all lines realised prices substantially in advance of those ruling over recent years. But the weather failed miserably. Last year the ■ bleating of sheep percolated through a cloud of dust which, stirred up by innumerable feet, hung like a blanket over yards that sweltered in the heat of a torrid February sun. Auctioneers, sales clerks, buyers and sellers worked or watched in a minimum of clothing. Yesterday a thick mist, punctuated by heavier showers, set in before the sale. Sheep and dogs had a bedraggled look, the men sweated beneath the necessary load of rainproof coats and gumboots and said uncomplimentary things about mists and humid atmospheres, • while booking clerks did their best to make legible entries on rain-soaked paper with indelible pencils. Yet everybody was happy, for it was a record yarding and prices were up. There was a large attendance and the sale was marked by a particularly good clearance, every line of ewes changing hands. There were a few passings of lambs under the hammer, though a number of these were sold later by private treaty.

Good breeding ewes were in strong demand. Two-tooth ewes made 28s to 29s 6d, best four and five-year ewes 22s 4d to 24s lOd, sheep of similar age showing slightly less conditon 19s 6d to 21s 6d, five and six-year ewes 15s to 18s, aged ewes suitable for fattening Ils to 13s. Lambs showed an easing tendency on late sales. Shorn Romney ewe lambs (rather small) made 15s 6d to 16s, mixed sex shdm Romney lambs 13s 6d to 14s Bd, shorn Romney wether lambs 12s to 13s, slightly smaller Ils 3d to Ils lOd, cull lambs 9s to 10s 6d. Two-tooth and four-tooth store wethers made 19s 6d to 21s Bd.

One-shear Romney rams were in strong demand and a consignment of 25 sold on account of J. Henderson and Sons, Marton, met with ready sale at from 5J to 7|gns each. Full-mouth Southdown rams made 2 to 2fgns, and aged Romney rams 10s to 20s. To-day about 3700 sheep will be offered at the Ohura fair, and another 4500 will be yarded to-morrow for the Tokarima fair.