Older Ewe Values Up At Oxford Fair

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31003, 8 March 1966, Page 22

Older Ewe Values Up At Oxford Fair

Older ewes, in particular, had a buoyant sale at Oxford yesterday and were probably at their highest point in the current ewe fair round in Mid and North Canterbury. One man who has been attending the sale for many years said he believed that the fair was the best since the wool boom in the early 19505.

The sale was specially strong for the older halfbred ewes in the offering. These ranged up to 96s for four-year-olds. This was 31s ahead of the best price received for ewes of this age group from the same property last year. Naturally not all vendors could show such spectacular advances, but there were several instances of sales being made at 20s or better than last year and most vendors would be able to show useful advances on their returns of last year. Younger ewes also sold very well and were making rales fully in line with best recent values. Much Smaller The yarding was well back on last year and coming at a time when feed supplies for the winter seem assured after the recent good rains this could have contributed to the strength of the market. The offering was down from 20,060 last year to only 13,559. It included 4722 two-tooth ewes, compared with 5771 last year, 7565 older ewes <11,789 a year ago) and 1272 ewe and wether lambs compared with 2500 at the last fair. Coming fairly late in the fair season the Oxford fair has enjoyed fluctuating fortunes in past years. in a dry season with the main buyers already satisfied the market has tended to slacken off about this stage, but in a season like the present one it is Oxford's turn to have a buoyant sale with the market tending to firm. Even »n the younger ewe section there were instances yesterday where vendors were making 20s to 3Os more than last year—it has to be remembered here that a year ago the district was just coming out of a long drought and some of the sheep were not so well grown—but on average the general advance in this section was about the 10s mark and this was reflected in a comparison of pens of sheep from the same vendors sold last year and again this year. The best of the two-tooth Romneys sold from £5 10s to £6 10s, with the £6 mark being reached or bettered twice. Good Romneys made from £5 to £5 9s, average to good from 90s to 99s and others 80s to 88s. The pick of the fine wool entry ranged from £5 to £5 ss, with good at 92s to 975, average 80s to 89s and others at 71s to 78s. Strong

Values were particularly strong in the older ewe sections taking into account that a fairly high proportion of the selection were in medium condition and not carrying a great deal of wool. Among the four-year-old fine wool ewes scarcely any sheep sold under about 675, and there were a number of sales between 70s and 80s, and of course the top’ price was 96s compared with 67s last year. The best of the four-year-old fine wool ewes made from 80s 6d to 965, with good at 71s to 775, and average at 63s to 68s, and others down to 50s. Romneys in this age group •old at 75s to 82s 6d for the best, with good late shorn sorts at 66s to 725, and others making down to 535.

.An indication of just how good the market was is given by a comparison of seven pens of five-year-old ewes sold yesterday and eight pens of the same vendors’ sheep sold last year. Tlie margin in favour of yesterday s sale was around 17s a head. This would be one of the biggest advances recorded at any fair this season. The best of the five-year-old Romneys made from 70s to 795. with average to good at 60s to 69s and others at 54s to 595. Good fine wool ewes sold from about 60s to 655. with average at 50s to 58s. The better annual draft fine wool ewes made from 64s to 75s with others at 34s to 50s, and Romneys of this description made from 63s to 765. Four and five-year-old Romneys ranged from 60s to 70s with fine wools making from 67s to 725. Mixed aged ewes ranged up to 765. Leading Prices

Last year s lop price vendors in the two-tooth section, C. L. Austin and Son. who realised £6 for three pens had no entries this year and top price ot the day went io J. U. McCracken (Haylanu) who had a fine pen of 86 big. well-grown and weilwoolled Romneys which made £6 10s. He had other pens which made £5 19s, £5 16s and £5 15s and his overall offering of 431 young ewes brought the good .average of £5 18s Bd. Last year the Hayland two-tooths made to £5 18s

Another sizeable entry of tWotooths was forward from M. Spencer-Bower (Claxby). For 82 Romneys he received £6 Is. This compared with his best price last year of £5 12s. Mr S’ encer-Bower also had sales at £5 Ils, £5 10s, £5 Bs. and £5 4s and for a pen of 77 halfbreds ht received £5. "oodstock Station had 71 Romn cross at £5 13s and L. E. T or <G eneyre) had a sale at £. ‘Os fi - 76 Romneys. 'ntana Fan . ’ Id. (Oxford) yr ed £' 5- for <9 Corriedales a 'he ame noney was rec pi by A. C V r . Mclntosh <’ o’ "at) for 87 Co”r edales. M. H .-o’ nston and Son (Ashley G - ? who were paid up to 9S nqr year b"d two pens of halfbreds at £5 4s and £5 3s on this occasion

J. T. Robertson (Whiterock Downs) headed the older ewe sale by a considerable margin in selling 252 four-year-old halfbreds at 965. Last year the top priced four-year-olds from the same property brought 655. W. E. Russell (Island Hill) also sold 194 late-shorn halfbreds at 80s 6d (66s 6d last year), and M. H. Johnston and Son also had 254 halfbreds, not carrying a great deal of wool, making 775, which compared with their top money of 67s last year. In the Romney section four-year-old ewes sold to 82s 6d for 269 from T. A. Judson and Sons (Glencoe). This was only 2s 6d up on their top price last year. C. C. Anderson (View Hill) aso realised 77s for 141. Five-year-olds

Five-year-old ewes made to 79s for 140 Romneys from J. U. McCracken, who also realised 78s for another 138. A year ago the Hayland ewes in this age group sold to 71s. Woodstock station had 197 Romney cross ewes at 765, and Birch Hill Station (Okuku) 200 late shorn Romney cross at 755. Among fine wool sales M. J. Ensor (Glynneath) had 99 late shorn Corriedales at 655. C. R. and M. W. Pilbrow (Horrelville) sold 153 annual draft Romneys at 765, and E. W. Feary and Company (Mount Oxford) received 75s for 200 annual draft halfbreds and 73s for 122. Four and five-year-old ewes ranged to 72s for 60 late shorn halfbreds from J. T. Robertson, and C. B. Cottrell (Ashleydowne) received 70s for 201 Romney cross. Mixed aged ewes sold to 76s for 24 Romneys from C. R. and M. W. Pilbrow. Like the older ewes, ewe lambs sold early in the day also had an excellent sale. The best of the Romneys made from 80s to 91s. with good at 70s to 79s and others at 51s to 665. Shorn Romneys made to 725. Top price here went to D. A. and K. M. Reid (Oxford), who had 83 at 91s, and V. H. Saunders (Coopers Creek) sold 70 at 84s. The pick of the halfbreds ranged from 61s to 70s, with others at 45s 6d to 59s 6d. W. Russell (Island Farm) sold 77 halfbreds at 70s, and the same money was paid to W. and R. Russell and Company (De Bourbles) for 110. Most of the small selection of wether lambs were halfbreds, and these sold from 49s 6d to 58s, with W. Russell selling 124 lambs at the top money. A good many of the sheep were bought by local interests, but some also went to Rakaia, Dunsandel, and Amberley. The following is a range of values, with figures for last year for comparison:

Details of sales were: Two Tooths New Zealand Farmers’ Co-oper-ative Association of Canterbury, Ltd., sold on account of: L. E. Taylor, Gleneyre, View Hill: 100 Romneys at £5 4s, 90 at 995, 76 at £5 10s. 26 at 95s C. B. Cottrell, Ashleydowns: 102 Romneys at 955, 60 at £5 Is. T. P. L. Duckworth, Wharfedale. Lees Valley: 106 halfbreds at 81s. W. R. Ensor, Bullock Creek: 65 Romneys at 955, 24 at 935. S. C. Brown, Grantham: 50 Romneys at 89s. J. D. Stewart, Golden Downs: 71 halfbreds at 78s. G. C. Early, Ringwood, .52 Corriedales at 89s. C. R. and M. W. Pilbrow, Horrelville: 23 Romneys at 89s. National Mortgage and Agency Company, Ltd., sold on account

of: E. J. Alien and Sons, Ltd., Bullock Hill: 64 late-shorn Romneys at 765. A. G. Scott. Ry dal Downs: 62 Romneys at £5 Is, 83 at £5 Bs. R. P. Parsons. Moeraki Downs: 98 Romneys at 935, 60 at 955. A. C. W. Mclntosh, Moy Flat: 87 Corriedales at £5 ss, 77 at 925, 53 at £5.

‘ A. S. Paget, View Hi-U: 53 > Romneys at £5 2s. T. A. Judson and Sons, Ltd., i Glencoe, Glentui: 32 Romneys at ' 945. ' N. W. Skurr, Beckbank, Carleton: 57 Romneys at £5 7s. Gibson Brothers, Snowdale, Lees Valley: 38 halfbreds at 78s. Dalgety and Company, Ltd., sold on account of: Estate B. A. B. Mclntosh, Riverside, West Eyreton: 70 Corriedales at £5 7s, 63 at £5, 66 at J. U. McCracken, Hayland: 74 Romneys at £5 15s-, 86 at £6 10s. 75 at £5 16s, 173 at £5 19s, 28 at 955. M. H. Johnston and Son, Ash’ey Gorge: 155 halfbreds at £5 3s, 50 at £5 4s, 50 at £5 Is, ! S 6 at 975, 26 at 965, 69 at 87s. Woodstock Station. Woodstock: 70 Romneys at £5 Is, 69 at £5 Is, 71 at £5 13s. < A. M. Henderson and Company, The Grange, Oxford: 64 Romneys i at 935, 71 at 83s. ■

J. S. Wolff, Horreivllle: 63 Romneys at 975, 77 at £5 4s. J. T. Robertson, Whiterock Downs: 61 halfbreds at 80s, 64 at 90s. Russell and Company, de Bourbles, Lees Valley: 58 halfbreds at 83s, 43 at 83s 6d, 51 at 87s. W. R. Russell, Island Hill, Lees Valley: 49 halfbreds at 84s, 43 at 83s 6d. Okuku Hill Station, Lees Valley: 100 halfbreds at 71s 6d. Birch Hill Station, Okuku: 75 Romneys at 975. J. R. and N. J. Kofoed, Newsted, Brown’s Rock: 75 Romneys at 965. K. Bunn, Eagle Hill: 85 Romneys at 955, 58 at £5, 48 at 91s, 68 at 955, 44 at 80s. M. Spencer Bower, Claxby, Swannanoa: 62 Romneys at £5 4s, 80 at £5 10s, 82 at £6 Is, 68 at £5 Ils, 77 at £5 Bs. 77 halfbreds at £5. R. Dixon, Whiterock: 62 Romneys at 955. Eric Thomson, Halketti 34 Romneys at £5 2s. A. R. Mclntosh, Whiterock Mains: 60 Romney cross at 955. Pyne, Gould, Guinness Ltd. sold on account of: Montana Farm Ltd., Oxford: 80 Romney-Corriedales at £5 ss. ADULT EWES National Mortgage and Agency Company, Ltd., sold on account of:— Gibson Brothers, Snowdale, Lees Valley: 184 four-year-old halfbreds at 635, 242 at 755. T. A. Judson and Sons, Glencoe, Glentui: 269 four-year-old Romneys at 82s 6d, 168 five-year-olds at 675. M. L. and J. R. Croy .Spring Creek, View Hill: 67 four and five-year-old Romneys at 695, 85 at 68s. C. C. Anderson, View Hili: 141 four-year-old Romneys at 775. A. S. Paget, View Wil: 75 four and five-year-old Romneys at 61s. Dalgety and N.Z. Loan, Ltd., sold on account of: — M. H. Johnston and Son, Ashley Gorge: 254 four-year-old halfbreds at 775, 100 at 71s 6d, 65 at 68s, 101 at 675, 30 four and six-tooths at 675, 62 five-year-olds at 60s. K. Bunn, Eagle Hill: 102 four-year-old Romneys at 67s 6d, 102 at 665, 120 at 72s 6d, 206 at 70s, 151 five-year-olds at 575, 49 at 535. Okuku Hill Station, Lees Valley: 107 four-year-old halfbreds at 695, 200 at 68s 6d, 51 at 675. J. U. McCracken, Hayland, Whiterock: 140 five-year-old Romneys at 695, 138 at 78s, 101 at 71s. Russeli and Company, de Bourbles, Lees Valley: 274 four-year-old halfbreds at 755, 82 at 675, 90 five-year-olds at 595. J. T. Robertson, Whiterock Downs: 252 four-year-old halfbreds at 965, 60 five-year-olds at 725. Birch Hill Station, Okuku: 94 five-year-old Romneys at 65s 6d, 200 at 755. J. S. Wolff, Horrelville: 86 five-year-old Romneys at 60s, 58 at 61s. W. R. Russell, Island Hill, Lees Valley: 76 five-year-old halfbreds at 58s 6d, 60 four-year-olds at 665, 194 at 80s 6d. Woodstock Station, Woodstock: 197 five-year-old Romneys at 765. New Zealand Farmers' Cooperative Association of Canterbury, Ltd., sold on account of: — C. B. Cottrell, Ashley Downs: 201 four and five-year-old Romneys at 70s. O’Halloran Estate, Glentui: 86 five-year-old Romneys at 545, 150 at 555. T. P .L. Duckworth, Wharfedale, Lees Valley: 280 four-year-old halfbreds at 71s. J. D. Stewart, Golden Downs: 113 five-year-old halfbreds at 60s, 100 at 58s. Estate A. O. Worner, Dagnum: 160 five-year-old Romneys at 595. L. E. Taylor, Gleneyre, View Hill: 70 five-year-old Romneys at 595, 169 at 61s. R. D. W’estenra, Fermoy: 194 five-year-old Romneys at 665. C. R. and M. W. Pilbrow, Hprrelville: 153 annual draft Romneys at 765. S. C. Brown, Grantham: 152 annual draft Romneys at 645. M. J. Ensor, Glynneath, Okuku: 99 five-year-old Romneys at 655.

G. C. Early, Ringwood, Oxford: 173 annual draft Corriedales at 50s. E. W. Feary and Company, Mt. Oxford: 101 five-year-old halfbreds at 675, 200 at 755, 122 at 735. M. A. Roberts, Lonfax: 84 five-year-old Romneys at 61s. R. E. Meyer, Oxford: 53 annual draft halfbreds at 50s, 40 at 345. L. A. Dunnill and Son. Brown’s Rock: 98 annual draft halfbreds at 42s 6d. K. F. Pickering, Cooper’s Creek: 34 sound-mouthed ewes at 635. Pyne, Gould, Guinness Ltd.,

sold on account of:— R. A. Marshall, Horsford Downs, Whiterock: 99 four-year-old Romneys at 755. Montana Farm, Ltd.. Oxford: 110 five-year-old Romney-Corrie-dales at 60s. C. L. Suckling, Ashley Bank: 122 Merinos at 41s 6d. K. J. Howden, Oxford: 115 five-year-old Corriedales at 545. LAMBS New Zealand Farmers' Cooperative Association of Canterbury, Ltd., sold on account of:— T. P. L. Duckworth, Wharfedale, Lees Valley: 154 halfbred ewe lambs at 61s, 49 at 45s 6d. G. S. T. Dailey, Oxford: 72 Romney ewe lambs at 725. Dalgety and New Zealand Loan, Ltd., sold on account of:— Russell and Company, de Bourbles, Lees Valley: 110 halfbred ewe lambs at 70s, 77 at 59s 6d. W. R. Russell, Island Hill, Lees Valley: 77 halfbred ewe lambs at 70s, 49 at 57s 6d, 129 wether lambs at 58s, 152 at 545, 46 at 49s 6d. D. A. and K. M. Reid, Oxford: 83 Romney ewe lambs at 91s, a pen at 795. V. H. Saunders, Cooper’s Creek: 70 Romney ewe lambs at 84s. R. E. Seque, Oxford: 59 Romney ewe lambs at 575, 64 at 535, 44 at 51s.

I960 S to 1 1965 e to 6 Two-tooth Ewes Best Romneys 110 130 103 120 Good 100 109 90 102 Av. to good 90 99 80 90 Others 80 88 60 77 Best fine wools 100 10-5 90 98 Good 92 97 84 88 Average 80 89 74 79 Others 71 78 54 64 Four-year-old Ewes Bes-t Romneys 75 82 70 80 Av. to good 66 72 -60 63 Others 53 — 46 55 Best fine wools 80 96 65 67 Good 71 77 60 64 Average OS 68 50 55 Five-year-old Ewes Best Romneys 70 79 —— 71 Av. to good 60 69 54 60 Others 54 59 40 48 Best fine wools 60 65 — 68 Average 50 58 50 58