FEILDING EWE FAIR

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 43, 21 February 1939, Page 11

FEILDING EWE FAIR

TOTAL ENTRY OF 43,000 CONSERVATIVE BUYING LIMITS Messrs. Abraham and Williams, Ltd., report that at the annual ewe fair held in the Feilding saleyards a total yarding of some 43,000 ewes of all ages were yarded, this yarding being very much in excess of the yarding in 1938, when a total entry of some 30,000 came forwara. Unlike last year’s fixture the buying public on Friday appeared to be buying within rather conservative limits with a very small representation of outside buyers. The increase in the number of ewes yarded was only to be expected when one considers £he very small percentage of breeding ewes which have changed hands privately during the past few weeks. The quality of the ewes in the main was rather disappointing. This applies more particularly -to the four, five and six-year-old ewes, there being only a very small percentage of what you would call really high class, good straight-bred chise'l-mouthed ewes. On the other hand, in the two-tooths, a total yarding of 11,000 came forwara and in this section our yarding was very uniform, there being a very large percentage of really good oneshear ewes. Some few years ago we made reference to the increase in the number of breeding ewes in the Dominion taken over a period of the previous ten years. The total number of breeding ewes taken for comparative purposes from the year 1921 to 1938 shows an increase of 52.3 per cent. To bring about this increase it is quite evident that a large number of old ewes are being carried forward and this was very evident at Friday’s fixture. Of the 30,000 four, five and six-year ewes offered on Friday we venture to say that of this number there were not any more than from 8000 to 10,000 of really good ewes included in the offering. It is to be regretted that such large numbers of really fattening ewes find their way to this ewe fair. At one time the Feilding ewe fair was looked upon as the outstanding fixture of the North Island in regard to numbers and quality, but of recent years in the main the quality of our cast-for-age ewes has depreciated considerably. Contrary to expectations the really tip-top five-year ewes met with rather poor competition and were to a certain extent neglected. On the other hand, what one would call a oneshear ewe sold under the keenest competition we have seen for very many years at prices ranging within from 2s to 3s of the very best chiselmouthed five-year ewe. Definitely the straight bred five-year ewe was much the better buying. It took a tip-top five-year ewe to fetch up to 19s, whereas good one-year ewes were selling at from 14s to 16s 6d. In the shearling ewe department one of the steadiest sales that has taken place in the Feilding saleyards was witnessed. The market opened with keen competition, which was sustained right to the end of the sale. Included in our offering we had some pens of very choice ewes of all ages. Of the total number of ewes yarded our proportion comprised 17,893 and we report a total clearance under the hammer with the exception of four small pens.

DALGETY AND COY. Dalgety and Co., Ltd., report on the above fair held on Friday, when an entry of approximately 44,000 ewes was submitted to a large attendance of buyers. Tlje quality in the main section was hardly up to the standard of recent years, the bulk of the entry comprising medium quality live and six-year ewes with only a small proportion of good straight lines of four and five-year ewes on offer. The sale opened quietly, and passings were fairly frequent in the early stages. However, once the market was established, vendors were prepared to sell, with the result that practically the whole of the entry changed hands at realisations in keeping with recent sales. In the two-tooth ewe section, approximately 14,000 ewes were penned which commanded a great deal of attention. The quality was outstanding, and a very free sale resulted, prices being fully firm on late rates. ENTRY AT TE AWAMUTU The Farmers’ Co-operative Auctioneering Company, Limited, reports having held the Te Awamutu stock sale and sheep fair, when a full yarding of fat and store sheep was offered, all classes selling freely with the exception of local store ewes. Store lambs were in keen demand and a general clearance was effected. Quotations: —Sheep: Prime heavy wethers, ISs 6d to 19s sd; lightweight wethers, 16s 6d to 18s 2d; light-weight black-face wethers and mixed-sex two-tooths, 14s 3d to 15s 6d; fat ewes, 8s to 9s 6d; killable ewes, 6s 6d to 7s; fat woolly lambs, 20s to 22s 6d; light fat woolly lambs, 15s 3d to 18s 9d; unfinished lambs, 12s to 14s 9d; small shorn ewe lambs, 10s to 13s 6d; shorn wether lambs, 10s to 13s 6d; medium shorn wether lambs, 8s 3d to 9s 6d; others, 5s 9d to 7s; woolly mixed-sex white-face lambs, 8s 6d to 10s 7d; two-tooth ewes. 23s 5d to 25s 6d; mixed-age ewes, 19s; soundmouth ewes, 14s 9d to 17s 9d; cull ewes. 4s to 7s 3d; aged Southdown rams, to 2gns. Cattle: Light Jersey cows and heifers, £5 6s to £6; light Jersey-cross fat steers, £6 9s to £7 10s; heavy fat Jersey cows, £5 8s to £5 19s; boner cows, £3 13s to £4 9s; lighter, £2 16s to £3 10s; store cows, 25s to £2 6s; heavy potter bulls, £6 15s to £7 10s; lighter, £4 17s 6d to £5 15s. Pigs: Choppers, £2 3s to £3 11s; best baconers, £3 10s to £3 12s; medium. £3 5s to £3 8s; light, £3 to £3 3s; butter-milk pigs and heavy porkers, £2 12s to £2 18s; medium porkers, £2 5s to £2 10s; light, 38s to £2 3s; large stores and unfinished workers, 30s to 365; medium stores, 24s to 27s id; slips, 16s to 21s 6d; best weaners. 11s 6d to 14s 6d; others, 5s to 8s 6d; Berkshire boars, to £4.