Lower prices at first fair for Wiltshires

These two-tooth Wiltshire ewes are capital stock from Turihaua Station Ltd and were the first pen put up for sale on Thursday. This pen of 141 head sold for $240 to a local farmer. This vendor’s next pen of 148 four-tooth ewes topped the sale at $245. Picture by Trevor Brown

A total of 3745 Wiltshire sheep were put up for auction at Matawhero on Thursday in the inaugural Wiltshire Fair, and with only a small bench of buyers present, prices did not reach the heights of recent sales outside the district.

There were some passings, especially among the older ewes.

The capital stock ewes from Turihaua Station sold very well, with the top pen realising $245.

Overall, across the fair the sheep were well presented with the full shedding sheep being sold separately from those still carrying some wool.

Vendors BJ Holdsworth and Stu Hickling spoke of their positive experiences with Wiltshires after having farmed them for a number of years.

Best prices —

Two-tooth ewes: Turihaua Station Ltd, capital stock, 141, $240; Bill Fisher, 100, $170.

Four-tooth ewes: Turihaua Station Ltd, capital stock, 148, $245.

Six-tooth ewes: Turihaua Station Ltd, capital stock, 85, $200.

Mixed age ewes: The Ranch Station Ltd, 12, $170; Turihaua Station Ltd. 52, $125; Arakihi Station,  28, $125, 174, $70.

Five-year ewes: Waikohu Station Ltd, 136, $140, 208, $90; Bill Fisher, 70, $95, 20, $60.

Ewe lambs: Waikohu Station Ltd, 91, $230, 105, $215, 91, $140, 110, $100, 136, $90, 145, $90, 95, $72, 124, $70; The Ranch Station Ltd, 109, $200, 65, $130, 107, $110, 95, $85, 92, $50; Duncan Cook, 8, $160.

Ram lambs: Waikohu Station Ltd, 10, $510, 20, $500, 10, $400, 20, $210; The Ranch Station Ltd, 26, $460; IL&SC Cooper Family Trust, 10, $250; Turihaua Station Ltd, 15, $210; Baytown Investments Ltd, 20, $200.