ROMNEY MARSH SHEEP

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 March 1940, Page 9

ROMNEY MARSH SHEEP

SOUTHLAND DISPERSAL SALE. WAIRARAPA PURCHASES. One of the largest gatherings of Romney Marsh sheep breeders ever assembled in Southland was present at the dispersal sale of the Waitoru Romney Marsh stud on behalf of the late Sir William Hunt and Mr W. E. Hunt at Dacre. Between 500 and 600 district farmers and breeders from all parts of New Zealand attended the sale, there being practically no province not represented. A notable feature was the number of breeders from the Wairarapa district who attended and some of the keenest bidding came from this contingent of prominent breeders. A total of more than 1200 sheep—92l studs and 306 flocks—was offered and the bidding was keen throughout, the sale being one of the most successful dispersals of important studs held in recent years in Now Zealand. The realisations exceeded 9000 guineas and the average price obtained for all classes of sheep was very satisfactory. Many years ago. the Waitoru stud was well known throughout New Zealand and had an outstanding reputation for the high standard of its Romney Marsh sheep. It was dispersed, but re-established in 1928 with a selection of the best breeding strains obstainable and was quickly developed into one of the largest and most prominent studs in the Dominion. The first annual sale of sur-

plus sheep held a year ago created wide interest among breeders throughout New Zealand and was remarkably successful. After the death of Sir William Hunt last year the trustees decided to disperse the stud and breeders from all parts of the Dominion took full advantage of the unique opportunity to secure stock of undoubted quality. The extent of the breedingoperations was well illustrated by the size of the offering which did not include all the sheep in the stud, a proportion of the hoggets being retained for sale next year as one-shear sheep.

The sale opened with the offering of 828 ewes, most of which were sold in lots of five and it was apparent at the beginning that the demand was verykeen. North Island breeders, who were present in force, made the pace and secured a good proportion of the sheep, while Otago and Canterbury breeders selected fair numbers. It was gratifying, however, that local breeders were successful in preventing too many of the sheep leaving Southland and many- lines were sold to district breeders. This was particularly notable in the highest priced rams which went to Southland bidders. Several lots were bought on behalf of Victorian breeders and will be shipped to Australia.

The strongest competition occurred for sheep of the famous Waiorongomai breeding which had been the foundation of the Waitoru (lock. Sheep of direct Waiorongomai breeding or only one generation removed from it brought the highest prices and it was evident that the leading breeders of the Dominion were practically unanimous about the outstanding characteristics of this strain. It could be claimed that practically- all the sheep offered were of pure Waiorongomai blood and this was probably one of the chief reasons for the remarkable success of the sale.

The highest prices secured were for stud rams, bids running up to 220 guineas at which two very atti active sheep changed hands, both being bought by Southland breeders. The first to reach this figure was a shearling ram which was bought by Mr Noel McGregor (Mt. Linton) and a little later a two-shear ram of similar breeding was knocked down to Mt Matthew Kirkpatrick (Greenvale) at the same figure. The Mossburn breeders. Chartres Brothers, bought a throeshear ram for 200 guineas and 100 gns was paid for rams by the Southland Frozen Meat Company for its Southdown stud. Mr Walter Yardley (Moa Flat) and Mr Basil Johnston (Feilding). The average price for 20 shearling rams was 43 guineas and for 28 mix-ed-age rams 54 guineas. Twenty- ram hoggets averaged 11'. guineas. Stud ewes realised up to 40 guineas, a Masterton client buying 'several highly-priced owes, the dearest two selling at 36 guineas and 40 guineas. These were one-shear sheep. Lots oi five shearling ewes sold up to 10 guineas with an average of about six guineas, an occasional lot going as cheaply as 31 guineas. Pens of twoshear ewes realised up to 14 guineas and single sheep to 20 guineas, while a single three-shear sheep brought 32'. guineas. The average for the whole of the ewe sale was 5 2-3 guineas.

Wairtirapa purchases were: Mr J. 11.I 1 . McMaster. "Pakohe." Marlinborough: One ewe at 40gns. 6-th ewe at 12gns. 6th ewe at Signs. 4-yr ewe at 22'gns. aged ewe al 14gns. ewe lamb at 101 gns. 1 pen of 5 at sgns. Mr J. Came Bidwill. Featherston: Pen of 5 at 9 gns. 1 pen of 6 at 6Agns. 1 pen of 5 at sgns. Mr L. N. Hoggard. Greytown: 1 at 36gns. 1 at 20gns, 1 at 14gns, 1 at 12gns. ewe lamb at lOlgns. Mr T. A. Brown, Masterton: a one-shear ewes 81gns, 1 at 15gns, 1 at 6gns, 1 at Bgns. 5 at Signs. 5 five-shear ewes nt sgns.