DOWN RAM FAIR HELD AT SHOW GROUNDS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18674, 31 January 1929, Page 10

DOWN RAM FAIR HELD AT SHOW GROUNDS.

COMPETITION LIMITED: NO NORTH ISLAND BUYING

A Down ram fair under the auspices of the Canterbury A. and P. Association was held at the Addington Show Grounds to-day. The fair was instituted last year, one of the main objects being to suit the convenience of North Island breeders who might wish to purchase their Down rams earlier than the ordinary fair of the association held in March. The fair last year met with fair success, but the same can scarcely be said for this year’s fair. Entries showed a big falling-off. There were more Southdown flock rams this year than last, the total being 532 compared with 505. The Shropshire flock rams showed a tremendous falling-off. Last year they numbered 300, while this year the entry was confined to five. The number of Ryelands at this year’s fair was nineteen, compared with thirtyfive.

There were only nineteen stud rams, three Shropshire and sixteen Southdown. Last year the Shropshire studs numbered thirteen, and the Southdowns fifty-seven. At the previous fair there was a good-sized entry of flock ewes, but this year’s fair failed to attract a single ewe.

The quality of the entry was mixed. There were some pens of really good rams forward, but many of the rams bore the appearance of being culls. Generally speaking, the quality was not too good.

The attendance of buyers was not nearly so large as at the previous fair. Competition appeared to be confined almost entirely to local breeders, and there did not seem to be any buying at all on behalf of North Island interests. The limited nature of the competition tended to make the sale a dragging one, especially in the early stages, when passings were fairly frequent. Later vendors were more inclined to meet the market, and the tone of the sale improved somewhat. Buyers had, however, very definite ideas of values, and, while rams sold freely at round about seven guineas and eight guineas, it took an exceptionally good pen to reach double figures. Still, rams of outstanding quality met with satisfactory competition.

Top price for Southdowns was 14gs for five sold on account of Mr M. F. Macfarlane (Waikari) and five from the same vendor made 13£gs. The following sales were made, the rams being one-shear unless otherwise mentioned: — SOUTHDOWN. The National Mortgage and Agency Company, Ltd., sold on account of Jos. Brooks (Brookside), 5 at BJgns; A. J. Kelman (Temuka), 3 at 63gns; W. J. Jenkins (Waddington), 4 at bigns. The N.Z. Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Ltd., sold on account of W. J. Jenkins (Sheffield), 4 at 7*gns; Jos. Brooks (Brookside), 5 at Bgns. The N.Z. Farmers’ Co-op. Association, Ltd., sold on account of C. G. Jarman (Darfleld), 5 at Bgns, 5 at 7!gns, 5 at 7£gns; G. Hight (Fendalton), 5 at lOagns, 2 at-AOgns; J. A. Adams (Greendale), 5 at Signs; Jos. Brooks” (Brookside), 5 at Bgns; Jas. Stevenson (Flax ton), 5 two-shear at 3&gns; W. W. Reddecliffe (Hororata), 4 at lOigns, 5 at 9gns; W. Reddecliffe (Hororata), 5 at 7gns, 5 at 63gns; B. Ridgen (Greendale), 5 at 4igns; Jas. Stevenson (Flax ton), 5 two-shear at Signs; W. Reddecliffe (Hororata), 1 at 7Agns.

Dalgety and Co., Ltd., sold on account of R. Kellock (Hawarden), 5 at Bgns; A. W. Adams (Sheffield), 2 at lugns; J. H. Pannett (Springston), 5 at t»igns, 5 at 6gns; L. D. Adams (Sheffield), 1 at l.'lgns; J. A. Adams (Greendale), 5 at lOgns; D. W. Westenra (Dunsandel), o at Signs, 5 at Bgns; M. F. Macfarlane (Awapuni), 5 at 14gns, 5 at 13|gns, 6 at 9Jgns; Jos. Brooks (Brookside), 5 at 9 4gns; E. Ridgen (Greendale), 5 at 6Jgns; J. A. Adams (Greendale), 5 at Tigns, 5 at 4|gns; F. H Greenwood (Southbridge), 2 at 6ignsR. J. Low (Highbank), 3 at Bigns, 3 at 7 £gns; Major G. F. Hutton (Bangor), 6 at 7 Igns.

Pyne, Gould, Guinness, Ltd., sold on account of Frizzell Bros. (West Eyreton), 5 at 7igns, 5 at 7Jgns; George Hight (Hororata), 5 at lOigns 3 at 9gns; Frizzell Bros. (West Eyreton), 10 at Bigns, 6 at B*gns; g. Hall (Hororata), 5 at 7igns; D. W. Westenra (Dunsandel), 5 at 9Jgns, 5 at Bigns- M Rooney (Seadown), 4 at 7gns- T w’ Brooks (Brookside), 5 at 7gns- W t' Jenkins (Waddington), 4 at Bgns- TnW Brooks (Brooksiijg), 5 at 7gns- w f’ M’Arthur (Harewood), 5 at 6gns 5 at Signs; Major G F. Hutton (Bangor) 4 at Bgns, A. J. Kelman (Temuka), 5 at 6igns, 5 at sJgns, 2 at 4igns; A. Robertson (Courtenay), 5 at Sens; H A Knight (Racecourse Hill), 2 at Hens 1 at \v^r : , u H D - S Ja “- Stewart <Raof w. M. Gabble Southbridge“St « k«T* ! lsSu°Alr ,V 2 7 ft n T2 4 tn s ° : D G T n rv°° S tenra (Dunsandel), I*l,l™. l Ves " Bgns; Jos. Brooks (Brookside)’ f Andrews). \ a**Tigns. Copland (St (Sheffield), 3 two-shear at T A’-” Brooks (Brookside), 6 B ‘i®‘!"• w - Croy (Oxford), 5 at t>Jsns. ’ J ’

RYELAND. Dalgety and Co., Ltd., sold on account W - *°’, 1 Renn ‘ e (Dqyleston), 2 twoshear at 7igns, 2 at 7gns.