Buoyant prime ewe sale at Dannevirke

Some of the yarding of over 2000 prime ewes at Dannevirke's Sheep Sale Thursday February 18.

Pic 2: BTG010321ES2 Caption: Phill Robson of Carrfields Livestock sold these prime ewes for the top price of $158/head.

Pic 3: BTG010321ES3 Caption: PGG Wrightsons' auctioneer Bjorn Andersen shows the teeth of these prime ewes which sold for the average price of $125/head.

Pic 4: BTG010321ES4 Caption: Keen interest in PGG Wrightson Matt Lorck's auction of these prime ewes which reached $146/head.

Pic 5: BTG010321ES5 Caption: These Wiltshires from Honeybourne sold for $109/head.

Pic 6: BTG010321ES6 Caption: Top price for these crypto store lambs from Hukanui Station of $108/ head.

By Dave Murdoch

A very large prime ewe yarding of over 2000 was the feature of the weekly sheep sale at Dannevirke on February 18. The top price for the first pen of 109 prime ewes of $158/head set the tone and with an average of $125/head both vendors and buyers could count it a fair sale for good quality stock.

One buyer from Hawke's Bay said he could always count on a fair price for good quality sheep while another from Masterton reckoned he had paid $5/head more than planned but had done okay. "We'll see when they are on the hooks," he said.

Livestock agents for Carrfields and PGG Wrightsons agreed prices were good one saying despite limited access to the works and the increasing dry conditions the prime ewe market was strong and well up on recent sales elsewhere locally.

PGG Wrightsons' auctioneer Bjorn Andersen shows the teeth of these prime ewes which sold for the average price of $125/head.

Close to 250 prime lambs sold for an average of $116/head with the range being from $86/head to $141/head.

Store sheep numbered just 350 with the cryptorchid lambs selling for $108/head, ewe and ram lambs within $10/head of that price.