Values Below Expectations At Tekapo Sheep Fair

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31002, 7 March 1966, Page 12

Values Below Expectations At Tekapo Sheep Fair

Values did not come quite up to expectations at the annual /air held at Lake Tekapo on Saturday. The sale was inclined to be irregular, some classes of sheep bringing more than last year and others less. Generally Merinos did not have as good a sale as last year, but halfbreds were in keen demand at markedly better rates.

There was a rather disappointing sale for lambs, values being lower than last year for Merinos. Halfbreds showed a slight improvement and the feature of the sale was the strong inquiry for Border Leicester and English Leicester Merino cross ewe lambs which showed substantial advances over a year ago. Merino two-tooth ewes were markedly easier, while halfbreds were much dearer. For older Merino wethers the market also tended to be cheaper.

The older ewe section was one of the best departments of the sale, both Merino and halfbred sheep showing a useful advance.

The sale, which was held in perfect weather, attracted its usual gallery of buyers from all parts of the South Island, and an indication of this was that adjoining pens sometimes were bought for such widely separated areas as Blenheim and Lumsden. Sheep were purchased for districts from Blenheim to Southland one pen of 299 annual draft Merino wethers from Bendrose station was purchased at 43s for the 14,000 acres property of the Wainui Trust on the central plateau of the North Island, 38 miles east of Taupo. It was estimated that overall some 2500 sheep would go to Marlborough. A reason for the weaker sale on Saturday could have been the sizeable and very buoyant sale at Omarama the previous day. It was thought to have drawn off some of the competition. A sale for this class of sheep has also been introduced now in Marlborough. Bigger Offering Compared with last year’s fair the yarding was about 2000 head up. The offering totalled 25,138 compared with 23,045 a year ago and included 7508 wether and ewe lambs (9386 last year), 3496 two and fourtooth ewes and wethers (3319), and 14,134 older ewes and wethers (13,340). Like most other areas of Canterbury the Mackenzie has had a favourable growing season and the sheep were generally in good condition, but after recent rains and dull weather some observers were inclined to feel that some of the sheep were not quite so attractive looking as usual. But as an indication of just how the sheep coming into this fair have improved over the years one Mackenzie Country runholder commented that today only about half as many sheep were being put into a pen as 10 years or so ago because of their improved size, and for this reason the yards were having to be continually increased in size. The sale opened with Merino wether lambs selling at slightly lower than last year’s rates. For seven pens sold on Saturday and an equal number of pens from the same vendors sold last year this year’s sale was back on average by about 3s 6d. The best price for Merinos was 52s for a big line of 836 from Simons Pass station. Last year this station was paid up to 60s. The best of the Merinto wether lambs sold from 47s to 525, with good at 40s to 465, and others at 26s to 365. For a limited selection of halfbred wether lambs values ranged from 40s 6d to 50s, and compared with last year rates were steady to slightly better. Both Mt. John station with 438 and Simons Hill with 154 were paid 50s. Last year, Mt. John received 51s 6d. For 155 Border Leicester Merino cross lambs the Lands and Survey Department (Ruataniwha) made to 525. There was a similar story in the ewe lamb section where Merinos on average were back by about 4s on last year. The pick of these realised from about 49s to 50s 6d and the top money went to Haldon Station for 200 out of a line of 341—the balance sold for 50s. A year ago Haldon sold a big line at 565. The neighbouring Black Forest station also had 209 at 495. Good Sale The sale of Border Leicester and English Leicester Merino cross ewe lambs was the feature of the ewe lamb sale and some of these entries were making 8s 6d and Ils 6d more than a year ago. These ewe lambs made from 62s to 75s 6d. with Simons Pass selling 358 Border Leicester Merino cross at the top money which contrasted with 64s at the last sale. A line of 202 English Leicester Merino cross from the Grampians station brought 75s compared with 66s 6d last year. Merinos and halfbreds had a sharply contrasting sale in the two-tooth ewe section. Over five pens sold on Saturday and the same number of pens from the same vendors sold last year. Merinos were back this year by 12s, whereas over six pens of similar halfbreds sold in each of the two years this year’s sale showed an advance of a worthwhile 15s. Simons Hill had a fine sale of 255 halfbreds at 91s. This was more than 20s a head up on last year. Maryburn station also realised 85s for 125 halfbreds, whereas last year their best price for this class of ewe was 68s. The best of the halfbreds sold from 82s to 91s, with average to good at 65s to 79s fid. For Merino two-tooth ewes values ranged up to 64s for 545 from the Maryhill Partnership. The partnership was reported to be changing to halfbreds and was selling a large part of its present flock at the fair. A big line of 618 two-shear Merinos from the property sold for 775. The best of the Merino twotooths brought to 645, with average to good at 49s to 53s and others at 40s to 455. There was only a small selection of two-tooth wethers and these were mainly Merinos. Here prices were a little variable with some vendors doing better than last year and others not quite as well. Overall values were not a great deal different from last year. The best Merinos brought from 60s to 68s, with others at 54s to 58s. Halfbreds also made to 68s. Mt. Hay station sold 69 Merinos at 68s—this compared with 61s paid to this station last year. Halfbreds from Maryburn station also made 68s, but this was 4s 6d below their best price last year. One and two-shear halfbreds from Simon Hill sold for 745. Better Tone The older ewe section was probably the soundest part of the sale, both Merino and halfbred ewes showing a general advance of 4s to 5s on last j'ear's rates. The best of the Merinos made from 60s to 675, with good making to 58s, average 40s to 475, others 30s to 37s with lateshorn sorts down to 265. Streamlands station realised 67s 6d for 305 Merinos, which was a shade better than their top money last year of 675. Grays HHls had a big line of 917 which all made ssk— this was 6s better than what they received up to last

year—and Coxs Downs greatly improved on their price of 42s last year to sell 134 at 675.

There was only a small offering of older halfbred ewes and these made from 59s to 64s for the best, with others at 43s to 525. Here the top priced sheep were from Paddy’s Market which had 186 annual draft ewes at 645. Last year this vendor was paid 45s 6d.

Older wethers, all of which were Merinos, also did not sell so well as last year. Individual vendors recorded declines in price ranging from a few pence to more than 10s a head. The best of these made from 55s to 575, with average at 40s to 445, others at 30s to 37s and late shorn at down to 225. Balmoral station, which was paid to 60s 6d last year, sold 200 on Saturday at 57s and another 274 at 56s 6d. Younger wethers ranged up to 77s for 355 three and fourshear Merinos from Ben Ohau. Last year the tops of a line of wethers of similar age made to 755. Details of sales were: WETHER LAMBS Pyne, Gould, Guinness Ltd., sold on account of:— Maryburn: 282 halfbreds at 45s 6d. Glentanner: 118 Merinos at 28s 6d. Maryhill Partnership: 602 Merinos at 365, 146 at 36s 6d. Mt. John: 438 halfbreds at 50s. Simons Pass: 836 Merinos at 525, 103 at 44s 6d. Crampians: 140 Merinos at 40s. Curraghmore: 50 Merinos at 43 s. Wright, Stephenson and Company, Ltd., sold on account of: Lands and Survey Department. Ruataniw’ha: 155 Border Leicester cross at 525. National Mortgage and Agency Company of New Zealand, Ltd., sold on account of:— Black Forest: 191 Merinos at 475. Haldon: 320 Merinos at 47s 6d. Bendrose: 52 Merinos at 355. Canterbury Farmers* Co-oper-ative Association, Ltd., sold on account of: — Mt. Dalgety: 113 halfbreds at 40s 6d. Glenrock: 47 Merinos at 40s. Glenmore: 67 Merinos at 335. Dalgety and New Zealand Loan, Ltd., sold on account of:— Simons Hill: 154 halfbreds at 50s. Omahau: 100 Merinos at 465. EWE LAMBS Canterbury Farmers* Co-oper-ative Association, Ltd., sold on account of:— Glenrock: 127 Border Leicester-Merino cross at 675, 45 at 28s. Mt. Dalgety: 115 halfbreds at 41s 6d. Glenmore: 128 Merinos at 31s 6d. Dalgety and New Zealand Loan, Ltd., sold on account of:— Omahau: 100 Merinos at 40s. Simons Hill: 88 halfbreds at 57 s. Pyne, Gould, Guinness Ltd., sold on account of:— Maryhill] Partnership: 400 Merinos at 375, 281 at 355, 125 at 275. Blue Mountain: 185 RomneyMerino cross at 495. The Grampians: 202 English Leicester-Merino cross at 755, 121 Merinos at 31s 6d. Glentanner: 135 Merinos at 25s 6d. Simons Pass: 358 Border Leicester-Merino cross at 75s 6d. Curraghmore: 61 Merinos at 43s 6d. National Mortgage and Agency Company of New Zealand, Ltd., sold on account of:— Black Forest: 209 Merinos at 495. Haldon: 200 Merinos at 50s 6d, 141 at 50s. Bendrose: 64 Merinos at 30s. Wright Stephenson and Company, Ltd., sold on account of:— Lands and Survey Department, Ruatanlwha: 197 Border Leicester cross at 625. MIXED-SEX LAMBS Canterbury Farmers* Co-oper-ative Association, Ltd., sold on account of:— Mt. Dalgety: 101 Border Leicester-Merino cross at 46s 6d. TWO-TOOTH EWES Pyne, Gould, Guinness Ltd., sold on account of:— The Grampians: 79 Merinos at 495. Maryburn: 125 halfbreds at 85s. Maryhill Partnership: 545 Merinos at 645, 618 two-shear Merinos at 775, 153 Merinos at 425. Mount John: 68 halfbreds at 655, 100 at 79s 6d, 132 at 775. Irishman Creek: 93 Merinos at 45s 6d. The Wolds: 104 halfbreds at 82s. Glentanner: 165 Merinos at 435. National Mortgage and Agency Company of New Zealand, Ltd., sold on account of:— Bauchops Hill: 50 halfbreds at 80s. Mount Hay: 35 Merinos at 535. Ferintosh: 19 two-shear Merinos at 41s. Streamlands: 71 two and four-tooth Merinos at 735. Dalgety and New Zealand Loan, Ltd., sold on account of:— Rhoborough Downs: 40 Merinos at 495. Simons Hill: 255 halfbreds at 91s. Canterbury Farmers* Co-oper-ative Association, Ltd., sold on account of:— Glenrock: 56 Merinos at 51s. Glenmore: 101 Merinos at 40s.

TWO-TOOTH WETHERS Dalgety and New Zealand Loan, Ltd., sold on account of:— Rhoborough Downs: 40 Merinos at 60s. Simons Hill: 50 one and twoshear halfbreds at 745. Pyne. Gould, Guinness Ltd., sold on account of:— Maryburn: 58 halfbreds at 68s. Glentanner: 145 Merinos at 545. The Grampians: 120 Merinos at 58s. National Mortgage and Agency Company of New Zealand, Ltd., sold on account of: — Ferintosh: 50 two-shear Merinos at 50s. Mount Hay: 69 Merinos at 6Ss. Wright, Stephenson and Company, Ltd., sold on account of: Mount Burke: 52 Merinos at 635. Canterbury Farmers* Co-oper-ative Association, Ltd., sold on account of: — Glenmore: 103 Merinos at 60s. OLDER EWES Canterbury Farmers' Co-oper-ative Association, Ltd., sold on account of: — Glenmore: 452 annual draft Merinos at 475, 83 at 435, 163 at 445. Mount Dalgety: 114 annual draft Merinos at 30s, 150 five-year-olds at 41s 6d, 243 four, six and eight-tooth halfbreds at 50s. Dalgety and New Zealand Loan, Ltd., sold on account of: Simons Hill: 650 annual draft halfbreds at 60s. 170 at 595. Rhoborough Downs: 119 annual draft Merinos at 345. Omahau: 240 annual draft Merinos at 335. Ben Ohau: 364 annual draft Merinos at 30s. Pyne, Gould, Guinness Ltd., sold on account of:— Maryhill Partnership: 617 three-shear Merinos at 535, 51 two-shear at 395, 200 annual draft at 375, 150 at 32s 6d. 362 at 33s 6d. Glentanner: 321 annual draft Merinos at 445. 200 at 38s. Irishman Creek: 538 annual draft Merinos at 375. Mount John: 403 annual draft halfbreds at 445.

Simons Pass: 140 annual draft Marinos at 375. Dusky: 100 late shorn annual draft Merinos at 265, 135 annual draft Merinos at 275. The Grampians: 190 Border Leicester cross at 5Ss. 100 annual draft Merinos at 475, 305 at 435. Wright, Stephenson and Com* pany, Ltd., sold on account of:— Lands and Survey Department, Ruatanawha: 300 annual draft Merinos at 31s. Pukaki Downs: 200 annual draft Merinos at 36s to 375. Holbrook: 269 annual draft halfbreds at 525. Manahune: 160 halfbreds at 435. National Mortgage and Agency Company of New Zealand, Ltd., sold on account of:— Black Forest: 32 annual draft Merinos at 3Ss. Bauchops HHI: 82 annual draft halfbreds at 635. Streamlands: 305 annual draft Merinos at 67s 6d. Mount Cook: 229 sound-mouth Merinos at 475, 206 at 61s. Gray’s Hil'ls: 917 annual draft Merinos at 655. Haldon: 472 annual draft Merinos at 58s. Coxs Downs: 134 sound-mouth Merinos at 675. Bendrose: 150 annual draft Merinos at 425. 100 at 41s 6d. Paddys Market: 186 annual draft halfbreds at 645, 51s at 435. OLDER WETHERS National Mortgage and Agency Company of New Zealand, Ltd., sold on account of: — Balmoral: 200 sound-mouth Merinos at 575, 274 at 56s 6d. Grays Hills: 33 four and sixtooth Merinos at 49s 6d, 157 annual draft Merinos at 37s 6d. Bendrose: 299 annual draft Merinos at 435. Ferintosh: 266 annual draft late shorn Merinos at 225. Pyne, Gould, Guinness Ltd., sold on account of:— Dusky: 227 annual draft Merinos at 25s 6d. 18 shorn at 225. Glentanner: 426 annual draft Merinos at 40s 6d. Lochaber: 291 annual draft Merinos at 41s. Dalgety and New Zealand Loan, Ltd., sold on account of:— Ben Ohan: 355 annual draft three and four-s-hear Merinos at 775. Omahau: 245 annual draft four and five-year-old Merinos at 555. Wright, Stephenson and Company, Ltd., sold on account of:— Pukaki Downs: 200 annual draft Merinos at 31s. Lands and Survey Department. Ruataniwha: 156 annual draft Merinos at 355. Guide Hill: 56 annual draft Merinos at 265. Canterbury Farmers* Cooperative Association, Ltd., sold on account of: — Glenmore: , 245 four-shear Merinos at 525.