Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
RURAL LIFE<br />
The <strong>North</strong> <strong>Canterbury</strong> <strong>News</strong>, <strong>February</strong> 4, <strong>2021</strong><br />
23<br />
No record highs at ewe fair, but sales sound<br />
By DAVID HILL<br />
Bidding was strong at the Hawarden<br />
Ewe Fair last Friday.<br />
While ewe numbers were down and<br />
there were no record bids, there was<br />
some ‘‘pretty sound’’ selling throughout<br />
the day, Peter Walsh &Associates<br />
auctioneer Allister Orchard said.<br />
The day’s top price was $234 for alineup<br />
of twotooth ewes in pen two offered<br />
by Christophersen Ltd, of Hawarden —<br />
well short of prices in excess of $280<br />
paid in recent years.<br />
About 13,000 ewes went under the<br />
In full cry ... Peter Walsh &Associates<br />
auctioneer Allister Orchard accepts abid.<br />
hammer this year, less than half the<br />
numbers on sale at last year’s twoday<br />
ewe fair.<br />
‘‘I would have thought that the top end<br />
of the twotooths may have made some<br />
bigger money, but we more than made<br />
up for it with the prices for mixedage<br />
ewes,’’ Mr Orchard said.<br />
‘‘I think with the mixedage and older<br />
ewes, the buyers know they have higher<br />
lambing percentages, so they’re looking<br />
for proven performers.’’<br />
Several pens of twotooth ewes sold<br />
for around $200 each, while mixed age<br />
ewes sold for $160 to $190, and annual<br />
draft ewes fetched $160 to $180.<br />
‘‘We had agood gallery of buyers right<br />
through to the end, so most vendors<br />
should be pretty happy with today’s<br />
results,’’ Mr Orchard said.<br />
The lower ewe numbers were put<br />
down to uncertainty around Covid19,<br />
farmers having plenty of feed, and the<br />
fact that no capital lines of stock were<br />
offered this year.<br />
‘‘This season has certainly been one<br />
out of the blocks, with plenty of feed<br />
around which gives farmers abit more<br />
confidence,’’ Mr Orchard said.<br />
Several farmers would have gone<br />
home without buying some ewes<br />
because of the lower numbers, so it<br />
should create plenty of interest for the<br />
Sheffield Ewe Fair on Friday, <strong>February</strong><br />
12, Mr Orchard said.<br />
While the catalogue is yet to be<br />
confirmed, indications are there will be<br />
more than 15,000 ewes offered at the<br />
Sheffield Saleyards. That would be<br />
down on last year, when the sale had to<br />
be split between two saleyards.<br />
Have youseenany of these pest plants?<br />
Bid ... Hazlettlivestock generalmanager Ed Marfell acceptsabid during the Hawarden Ewe<br />
Fair.This pen of twotooth ewes offered by ChristophersenLtd sold for $234.<br />
PHOTO: DAVID HILL<br />
Harvest Time!<br />
Local Business Serving The Local Area.<br />
• Hay -Baleage -Straw<br />
Medium square, round, conventional.<br />
Double mower conditioners, wrapping.<br />
Individual wrapping, squares and rounds<br />
• All agricultural and cultivation work<br />
• Direct drilling -Giant discing -Ploughing<br />
-Power harrow -Air seeding<br />
We look after your needs like we look after our own!<br />
All heading and windrowing<br />
requirements<br />
• Daily Freight Run to Ch-Ch &Return.<br />
Ph: 0274 517 063<br />
0274 321 581 (Bus)<br />
03 314 4565 (H)<br />
2331792<br />
Bell heather<br />
Ericacinerea<br />
• Low growingbushy shrub
Change language