Mostly ewe lambs, prices eased slightly

These store ram lambs from the Matuku Trust at Kanakania sold for $95 in the weekly sheep sale at the Matawhero saleyards yesterday. They were the top draft of their 210 ram lambs. Picture by Trevor Brown

There were no prime sheep or store ewes in the weekly sheep sale at Matawhero yesterday, just 1021 store lambs — mostly ewe lambs — and only two vendors.

Prices eased slightly on those paid last week.

The top price of $95 went to the Matuku Trust at Kanakanaia for their pen of 54 blackface ram lambs.

This vendor also received $90 for 70 blackface ewe lambs.

Grass growth is still very slow on the Poverty Bay Flats, while processing companies are now predicting a shortage of killable lambs in late winter.

Best prices —

Store ram lambs: Matuku Trust, 54, $95, 104, $92, 52, $60.

Store ewe lambs: Matuku Trust, 70, $90, 170, $85, 115, $75, 124, $70, 131, $60, 43, $47; Treble B Trust, 42, $76.50, 81, $61, 18, $55.