Southern ram breeders pleased with sales so far

The Charollais Sheep New Zealand ram sale was one of the first in the South. Photo / Shawn McAvinue

Ram sale season has started in the South and breeders are pleased with good clearances so far.

Charollais Sheep New Zealand co-owner Matt Ponsonby, of Tuapeka West, said he was happy with his rams selling for an average of nearly $1300 at his 11th annual sale at the Gore A&P Showgrounds earlier this month.

The top price was $4000.

Ninety rams were on offer and he had taken about a dozen of them home.

Demand for rams was good, but it was down on last year, he said.

"Last year we had a fantastic sale. This year was not probably as hot but it was absolutely fine."

Demand fluctuates in "the terminal sire game", with some farmers buying a ram every second year.

Farmers were "optimistically cautious".

Merrydowns Romney and Southdown Stud co-owner Blair Robertson, of Waikoikoi, said his 13th on-farm ram sale late last month went "quite well".

About 220 rams sold for an average of nearly $1650. The top price for a Southdown was $9500 and for a Romney was $4800.

All of the Southdown on offer sold and nine Romneys were passed on.

Prices were "up a little" on past sales.

High commodity prices were fuelling ram sales but buyers continue to "look for quality".