Dannevirke: Top ewes fetch good price at combined fair

Pens of ewes as far as the eye could see as thousands of head of stock were sold at the combined ewe fair.

Top quality ewes from Roger and Beryl McMillian of Akitio's Taumata Station made the best price at the Dannevirke and Wimbledon combined ewe fair last Thursday - continuing the success the couple have had over the past few years.

However, the $157 a head paid for the 816 ewes, first up in the sale, was down on the top price of $167 the McMillian's achieved last year for their Wairere-bred two-tooths.

More than 9000 stock went under the hammer, with PGG Wrightson auctioneer Bjorn Anderson saying the McMillian's stock were genuine, hill country ewes.

"You'd struggle to find better anywhere."

Auctioneer Bjorn Anderson of PGG Wrightson knocks down the two opening pens from vendors Roger and Beryl McMillian of Akitio. The 816 top quality ewes made $157, topping the sale for another year.

Another pen from the same vendors made $146.

Retiring Weber farmer Ken Cameron presented capital stock for sale with his two-tooths making $125 a head, while 212 four-tooths fetched $124. A later pen of 248 five-year-old ewes made $66.50 a head and 201 six-year-olds, also capital stock, went for $68.50. "I can't do anything about it (the price)," Mr Cameron said. "There is only one way for them and it was out of here and not back to the farm."

Mr Cameron and his wife Annette have sold their property and are moving to the Hawke's Bay at the end of January, with Mr Cameron saying it was time to get out of farming.

Transport companies were busy carting stock to and from the annual ewe sale on Thursday.

"With the drop in the lamb schedule, we're getting out at the right time."

It's a tough life for a working dog at the sale.

Dannevirke farmer Mark Redward had no stock in the sale, preferring to keep what he had. We said McMillian's first pen made not a bad price, and it is wonderful season, despite all the adverse comments.