North Canterbury News: January 25, 2024

Ewe fair ... The Hawarden Ewe Fair always draws abig crowd of buyers and spectators.
PHOTO: JOHN COSGROVE
Fewer ewes on offer
By JOHN COSGROVE
This year’s 126th annual Hawarden Ewe
Fair will be one of the smallest held in
recent years, reflecting market
conditions.
Travis Dalzell, alivestock agent at
Hazlett, says there will only be 8500 ewes
on offer tomorrow at Hawarden, down
on over 11,000 lambs and ewes offered
last year.
‘‘Numbers are well back this year, but
Ithink the cross breeds will be in good
demand at Hawarden.
‘‘However, Ialso think we will all have
to work alittle bit harder on the fine
wool.’’
General Manager Livestock at Hazlett,
Ed Marfell says farmers are doing it hard
this year and watching their costs and
spending.
‘‘With the mutton schedule almost half
of what it was last year, many are making
hard choices. Do they hang on to extra
ewes or do they sell now?
‘‘With the sheep market being
depressed at present annual lines are
still going to the sales, but with asmaller
number of two tooths on offer at the
recent Temuka sale where prices were
OK, it will be interesting to see what
tomorrow’s sale will bring.’’
He says North Island ewe fairs have
gone well so far this year and he is
hoping the Hawarden Ewe Fair will be
just as good, if not better.
This is in­line with Hazlett’s recent
market reports from ewe sales which
show since the start of 2024 the market
Sheep aplenty ... An aerial view of the first
day of the Hawarden Ewe Fair in 2020.
PHOTO: FILE
has softened in line with mutton
schedules.
Demand was mixed at their recent
Coalgate Sale, but prices were steady.
Rural Livestock agent Glen Armstrong
says ewe prices are back afair bit at
present and this is reflected in the
mutton schedules.
‘‘Breeding ewe prices at Hawarden
may dip alittle, but two tooths should
sell reasonably well. However one year
ewes may be light.
‘‘Traditionally at this time of year, and
with current forecasts, farmers have to
be careful where they spend their
money, and this will be reflected in the
prices on Friday,’’ Mr Armstrong says.
Rook hunt
Residents are being asked to keep
their eyes and ears open for rooks.
The call comes after Environment
Canterbury received areport from
community member in south­west
Christchurch of a‘kaah’ bird call,
which is often associated with rooks.
Unfortunately, they were not able to
snap aphoto of the bird, but the iconic
call is enough has prompted the
biosecurity team to investigate further.
Rooks pose aserious threat to
agriculture, wreaking havoc on newly
sown crops at arable farms, ripping
them out and damaging small plants.
The last known lone rook was shot in
May this year by afarm worker in
North Canterbury’s Parnassus /Inland
Kaikōura Road area after ayear of
various sightings in North Canterbury.
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The North Canterbury News, January 25, 2024
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