Lambs hot property at Stortford

Good follow-up rain in Hawke's Bay was reflected in the store sheep prices at Stortford Lodge yesterday.

Three lines of five-year ewes of average quality all broke the $100 mark and lambs were hot property as lamb finishers took confidence from the warm rain overnight on Tuesday.

Many of the lambs in the yarding of about 5000 head went to buyers from Rangitikei, Taupo and the South Island.

As with the last few weeks many of the pens came from Wairoa and Gisborne vendors.

PRICES

Ewes: D Heays, Kaiwaka, 119 5yr, $108; 40 5yr, $100; Taihoa, Tutira, 27 5yr, $119; Karapiti, Sherenden, 26 m/a, one ram, $109.
Lambs: Tangihau Station, Rere, 212 male, $92.50; 612 male, $87; 218 male, $84; 152 b/f m/s, $95; 210 male, $85.50; 52 b/f m/s, $84.50; Puhoro Station, Ruakituri, 208 c/o, $92; Pukenui Station, Ruakituri, 120 male, $84.50; 162 m/s, $81; 57 b/f m/s, $80.50; Ngawa Farm, Wanstead, 285 male, $92; Blackwill Ltd, Ohuka, 298 b/f ram, $86.50; Te Ngaio Farm, Porangahau, 197 c/o, $89.50; 144 c/o, $80.50; Pokopoko Station, Wairoa, 200 ram, $89; 150 ram, $81.50; 112 b/f m/s, $80; Glengyle Farm, Tuai, 87 ewe, $81; 64 ewe, $82.50; Black Stag, Tutira, 231 ewe, $77.50; Aratiti Farm, 204 wether, $95; 84 wether, $87; 25 b/f/m/s, $85.50; Alton Farm, Wairoa, 79 ram, $92.50; 84 ewe, $83.50; 51 b/f ram, $92.50; 75 b/f ewe, $85; O Nicholas, Puketitiri, 86 male, $90.50; 87 male, $85.50; 92 b/f m/s, $94; 92 ewe, $89.50; 81 ewe, $84.50; 115 m/s, $80; 31 b/f m/s, $84; Ponanga, Kereru, 106 b/f m/s, $85.50; Puhoro Station, Wairoa, 123 male, $87.50; Tennent Farming, Mangahei, 100 b/f ewe, $84; 55 ram, $88.50; 45 b/f ram, $87.50; Wairunga, Maraetotara, 82 b/f ewe, $84; 109 b/f male, $88; M O'Dwyer Trust, Tikokino, 105 wether, $71.50; 128 ewe, $73; 63 m/s, $66.50; |A and C Milligan, Pakipaki, 76 ewe, $87.70; 51 male, $93; Mesa Farm, Maraekakaho, 31 m/s, $96.50; Earnmore Farm, Waipukurau, 47 male, $80;

Prime sale

Shortages in all classes kept prices strong at Monday's prime sale. However, there were only 18 lambs on offer, making it hard to draw useful conclusions.

The good rain of February meant good grass growth so farmers are keeping stock to add weight, meaning fewer are available for sale.

Many of the yarding of about 900 ewes were showing signs of the feed shortage before the rain. However, they still made good money as processing companies look to fill space.

There were 61 head of cattle on offer. A feature pen of angus oxen made $3.01/kg.

CATTLE

Oxen: (Ang, here-fries) Av weight, 536kg to 607kg, 277c/kg to 301c/kg, $1602/head to $1708/head.
Cows: (Ang, fries, here, simm-cross) Av weight, 367kg to 620kg, 170.5c/kg to 192.5c/kg, $626/head to $1184/head.
Bulls: (Fries, ang-cross) Av weight, 425kg, 462kg, 227.5c/kg, 238c/kg, $944/head, $1100/head.

SHEEP

Ewes: Slipe, heavy, $94 to $99; good, $85.50; med, $70 to $76; light, $51 to $54. Shorn, med, $76; lighter, $54 t0 $69.
Lambs: M/s,$95 to $116; ewe, $97 to $120; b/f, $82.50.