Later-born store lamb prices crash

These store ewe lambs, carrying a lot of wool and good body condition, topped the store lamb section in the weekly sheep sale at the Matawhero saleyards yesterday — 35 of them selling for $129. Picture by Trevor Brown

The best of the store lambs sold at recent values at yesterday’s Matawhero sheep sale. However, there was a dramatic fall in demand for the later-born store lambs.

Prices for them crashed and several pens failed to attract a buyer.

A total of 907 store lambs were yarded, too many for the market.

Top price went to KJ & RE Fisher, at Motu, who received $129 for a pen of 35 store ewe lambs.

Prices for the 36 prime ewes also fell, averaging $91.25. Best price paid was $123 for three ewes from the Kainga Farm at Ngatapa.

Jonathan Harris received $165 for three huge prime ram lambs.

Forty-three  prime lambs yarded for sale.

KJ & RE Fisher sold two pens of ewes run with the ram from

April 20 and showing their udders.

The 16 two-tooth ewes and 19 five-year ewes both sold for $70.

A pen of seven ewes, with seven young lambs at foot, sold for $33 all counted.

Best prices — Store ewe lambs: KJ & RE Fisher, 35, $129, 29, $70; Hinenui Genetics Ltd, 13, $70; The Naumai Farm Trust, 29, $67, 54, $57, 16, $29; Kerley Agriculture Ltd, 42, $60; Marotiri Farm P/S, 69, $47, 29, $25; Te Kopae Station, 14, $20.

Store male lambs: Marotiri Farm P/S, 7, $120, 11, $56, 11, $40; Homebush Station Ltd, 64, $118, 84, $102, 24, $51; KJ & RE Fisher, 4, $116; The Naumai Farm Trust, 23, $96, 14, $25; Te Kopae Station, 32, $92, 8, $30.

Mixed sex store lambs: DA & CM Redpath Ltd, 51, $116, 4, $30; Waioma Station, 14, $98, 9, $48.