30,000 SHEEP PENNED

Waikato Times, Volume 126, Issue 21035, 10 February 1940, Page 6

30,000 SHEEP PENNED

RECORD YARDING SALE AT MORRINSVILLE LARGE BENCH OF BUYERS The largest entry of sheep ever submitted at the Morrinsville saleyards and the biggest number auctioned in the Waikato since the old Ohaupo ewe fairs some 25 years ago came forward at the weekly Morrinsville sale yesterday, when approximately 30,000 sheep were penned. Another feature of the sale was the attendance of farmers, the buying bench being one of the largest ever seen at a ewe fair in the Waikato.

Buyers had travelled from many outside districts to attend the sale, but the gathering consisted mainly of local buyers. With so large an entry advertised, it was considered by many that values would change in buyers’ favour. The contrary proved the case, values in most instances firming on the previous Morrinsville sale.

In the early days when ewe fairs were held at Ohaupo four or five times a year, it was not uncommon to have yardings of more than 30,000 sheep. However, at that period Ohaupo was the chief selling centre for store sheep in the Waikato and there were no other major sale centres. Up to 25,000 ewes have been penned at Morrinsville in recent years, while the largest number ever offered at Frankton has been 24,000.