Dannevirke: Healthy demand sees strong prices for sheep

Carrfields Livestock agent Phill Robson selling rams at the Dannevirke Saleyards last Thursday.

Last week's combined Dannevirke-Pahiatua ewe fair and ram sale attracted buyers and vendors from around the region, with strong demand for the stock on offer.

"There was good, strong demand for all types of ewes," Roger Watts of Dannevirke PGG Wrightson's said. "Considering the outlook for lambs at the moment, ewes sold above expectations."

The top price of $112 a head was paid for 276 four-tooth Romney's on account of Rob Bevins. Mr Bevins was selling capital stock following the sale of his farm.

Auctioneer Bjorn Anderson works hard to sell a pen of five-year-old ewes from a Pahiatua vendor at last Thursday's combined Dannevirke-Pahiatua ewe fair.

Other ewes made between $103.30 for 96 four and six-tooth ewes on behalf of RC and N Ellingham, while five and six-year-old ewes made between $87.50 and $60.50. Mixed aged ewes sold between $91 and $75.

However, there were a few pens which were left to the stock agents to negotiate a deal between vendor and purchasers following the auction, including a pen of mixed aged ewes initially passed in at $40 a head.

The two-tooth ram fair was held following the ewe sale, with the top price of $400 going to McWhirter Farming of Porangahau for a pure-bred Cheviot ram. When bidding stopped at $370, negotiations continued with the vendor until the $400 was achieved.

Prices for the 70 rams on offer varied from between $380 a head and just $80. Suffolk rams made between $380 to $240 a head for the better quality stock, while other's fetched between $190 and $80.

Three rams from David Thompson of Te Rapo Farm in Norsewood, made between $290 and $240.

South Suffolk rams from David Thompson of Norsewood made between $290 and $240 a head, while one Texal cross ram from a Motea vendor made $380.

"There was a solid bench of buyers and the rams sold to expectations," Mr Watts told the Dannevirke News. "Some cockies who had purchased ewes then bought rams as well."

The majority of the rams sold well, with just a couple passed in.