Store lamb prices remain depressed

This first pick of 52 capital stock, Romney two- tooth ewes from Ohuka Farm (Otoko) Ltd sold for $109 in the weekly sheep sale at Matawhero yesterday. Subsequents cuts of this mob fetched $95 and $86. They were all carrying good average body condition, but lacked size. Picture by Trevor Brown

Five vendors were brave enough yesterday to send store lambs to the weekly Matawhero sale but prices for these lambs remain very depressed, with no sign of improvement until meat schedule prices lift.

The larger lambs, of which there were few, still met a steady demand, but there was little interest in the small store lambs.

There was a total yarding of 1534 sheep, including 36 prime ewes, 673 store lambs and 540 breeding ewes.

Prime ewes sold from $70 down to $50.

Tangihau Station, at Rere, received best price of $77.50 for 29 store black-face ewe lambs.

Ohuka Farm (Otoko) Ltd offered three pens of capital stock Romney two-tooth ewes, which sold from $109 down to $86.

Fat, five-year ewes with good two-year mouths, from KJ & RE Fisher at Motu, sold from $102 down to $69.

Store ewes for fattening sold from $55 down to $35.

Best prices: store ewe lambs: Tangihau Station, 29, $77.50, 133, $75.50, 73, $60; Arakihi Station, 97, $49, 109, $38, 39, $20.

Store male lambs: Arakahi Station, 38, $69, 71, $40, 30, $25; Mead P/S, 10, $51.

Store mixed sex lambs: Benjamin Fisher, 17, $64, 27, $33.

Breeding ewes: Ohuka Farm (Otoko) Ltd, capital stock 2 tooths, 52, $109, 188, $95, 130, $86; KJ & RE Fisher, 5 year ewes, 26, $102, 129, $95, 15, $95, 49, $69.