Many donations for appeal at sheep sale

These 53 male lambs, donated by a farmer who has always wanted to remain anonymous, sold yesterday for $215 each for the Gisborne East Coast Cancer Society at the Matawhero Saleyards. The farmer has been making this significant donation for the Cancer Society’s appeal annually for some years. The lambs were purchased by Dav Meat Ltd (owned by Barney Pike). At the start of the sale Cancer Society representatives gave each stock firm staff member a special necktie, commemorating the 25th year of the appeal sale at Matawhero. During that time more than 800 sheep have been donated, netting in excess of $1 million. Yesterday’s sale resulted in $32,263 for the appeal. Picture by Trevor Brown

More than 1930 sheep were sent for sale at yesterday’s Matawhero sheep sale, which included many sheep donated by local farmers towards the Gisborne East Coast Cancer Society’s annual appeal.

Compared with the previous sale, held two weeks ago, prices remained steady for the prime ewes and lambs and prices were up for the store lambs.

The best price was $215 each for a pen of 53 male lambs donated to the cancer appeal by an anonymous farmer.

Demand remained steady for the better lambs, but was limited for the later born lambs, with prices easing.

There were few buyers present.  A pen of eight healthy ewes with 12  two-week- old lambs at foot, sold for $50, all counted.

Best prices —

Store male lambs: Cancer Society Gisborne, 53, $215, 26, $93, 9, $81; Mangatoitoi Station, 28, $139, 30, $122, 22, $64; GJ & ME Hope, 60, $125, 25, $119, 7, $70; The Naumai Farm Trust, 39, $121, 19, $76.

Store ewe lambs: Mangatoitoi Station, 152, $125, 45, $120, 57, $107, 9, $51, 11, $50; Waitangi Terrace Station, 41, $121, 200, $118.50, 459, $103.50, 34, $46; GJ & ME Hope, 58, $121, 12, $60.