Prices ease slightly

These 46 very well-presented store ram lambs from MW and AM Flood, at Kanakanaia, fetched the highest price of $111 yesterday in the weekly sheep sale at the Matawhero saleyards. Overall, prices eased slightly on the sale two weeks ago. Picture by Trevor Brown

There was a total yarding of 2105 sheep at the Matawhero saleyards yesterday, including 1871 store lambs, and prices eased slightly on the sale two weeks ago.

MW & AM Flood topped that section, selling 46 heavy, recently shorn ram lambs for $111.

They also received the best price of $82.50 for 61 store ewe lambs.

Emma Lou Pollitt sold two very large prime lambs for $140.

KJ & RE Fisher, at Motu, received $70 for 90 heavy five- year ewes, with good mouths. A second cut of 24 made $47.

Store ewes for fattening fetched from $40 down to $20.

Good rain is needed to boost the growth of the young grass that has been sown recently on the Poverty Bay Flats.

Such rain would create more demand for store lambs.

Best prices —

Store male lambs: MW & AM Flood, 46, $111, 35, $94; CNA & JM Marr, 177, $86, 476, $81, 140, $70; LC Mason, 54, $64; Cheviot Hills Ltd, 24, $60; Wilson Pastoral, 3, $50.

Store ewe lambs: MW & AM Flood, 61, $82.50, 10, $60; CNA & JM Marr, 110, $76.50, 200, $70.50, 127, $70, 80, $50; LC Mason, 41, $57; Wilson Pastoral, 28, $51, 35, $40.

Store mixed sex lambs: Grants Panel Shop, 33, $69, 86, $56.