MESSRS McNICOL AND CO.'S SHEEP FAIR.

Waikato Argus, Volume II, Issue 88, 30 January 1897, Page 2

MESSRS McNICOL AND CO.'S SHEEP FAIR.

Tins steady 'downpour of the last twenty-four hours will put a different aspect on the district from a grazier's point of view—the turnips will get a good start, and although perhaps later than usual, good crops may be looked forward to ; there lias been so little growth through the Spring that with the last rail) the grass has already shot away, and there is every prospect ot abundance of feed fill the above crops arc ready for stocking. Buyers should, therefore, bear in mind Messrs Mclsicol and Go.'s Annual Sheep Fair will lie held at Ohaupo, on Wednesday next, 3rd February, and for wh'Ch 15,000 sheep are catalogued, comprising 7000 three and four-year-old crossbred ewes, 2000 two and four - tooth ewc«, 3500 two and four-tooth wethers, and '2500 lambs. Owing to the mild winter sheep generally were brought through it in good order, and we may safely expect that the three and four-year-old ewes to ho offered at this sale will be a sound fresh lot of sheep and in better order than those offered at this firm's similar sales last year, and suitable for fattening or fresh enough to take a couple of lambs from. Wethers are scarce in the district, therefore there is every prospect in the course of a few months of fat sheep attaining satisfactory prices in the Auckland goldfields markets, so graziers have now an opportunity of getting sheep out of the 3500 catalogued while there is a good margin for fattening. Lambowners recognise that to carry them through the winter sitisfactorily they must be kept going without a check ; therefoic we may anticipate the 2500 to go off readily, as from past experience buyers have found it to their advantage to buy right off when the breeders bring them to the early sales, and while the lambs are strong and healthy. In starting a breeding flock young sheep must bo obtained, and as there area number of back country settlers going in for sheep this year, 2,000 two and four-tooth ewes should not be overlooked. Taking it all through we may look forward to satisfactory sheep fairs. The sheep are decreasing in the four counties, but the quality is improving. _____,_____„_