Better prices for store lambs

These 35 store ram lambs from the Matuku Trust at Kanakanaia were the first of the store lambs sold in the weekly Matawhero sheep sale yesterday. They were of good size and condition and made $108 — the first store lambs to top $100 for some weeks. Picture by Trevor Brown

There were 2455 store lambs offered for sale at Matawhero yesterday and most of them had good body size and condition. Consequently, the average sale price paid for the better lambs ranged from $108 down to $83.

The best price paid was $108 for 35 ram lambs from the Matuku Trust at Kanakanaia.

CNA and JM Marr at Te Wera received the best price of $93 for 117 store ewe lambs.

The smaller store lambs and any unshorn lambs proved hard to sell.

Prime lambs fetched from $130 down to $103.

Prices paid for the 16 prime ewes were from $88 down to $60.

One pen of 11 store ewes sold for $51.

A pen of 59 heavy, mixed-age ewes with good body condition and good teeth, ready for mating, failed to attract a bid.

Having recently sold his small farm, Ross Buscke ended his life-long association with selling sheep at the Matawhero saleyards yesterday.

As a youth he assisted his father, Dudley, at Matawhero, later managing Manawanui Station at Te Wera, before moving to a small block near Gisborne.

Best prices — store male lambs: Matuku Trust, 35, $108, 103, $84, 87, $72; CNA & JM Marr, 47, $90.5, 122, $83; Aorangi P/S, 10, $85; Bill Fisher, 41, $79, 129, $73.5, 98, $58.

Store mixed-sex lambs: Aorangi P/S, 77, $86, 27, $69; Rau White, 42, $86; Mangapoi Station, 70, $74, 159, $56, 77, $46, 36, $30; Reginald Proffit, 24, $50.

Store ewe lambs: CNA & JM Marr, 117, $93, 310, $83, 79, $65; Waitangi Terrace Station, 113, $77, 304, $71.50, 199, $71.