A lack of feed and wobble in confidence meant a disappointing ewe fair at Stortford Lodge last week.
The mixed-age and two-tooth ewe fairs were combined this year due to a lack of numbers last year.
However, a good lambing in 2018 and combining the sales meant there were 22,000 ewes of mostly top quality on offer and the result was the most expensive ewes were purebred wiltshires at $317.
Last year's top sellers this year were up to $30 down on last year although the vendor said this year's offering was not of the same quality as last year's because of a shortage of feed.
Among the 5-year-old ewes several pens of good ewes were passed in. Many pens were on offer because of farm sales.
There was a big bench of buyers from Hawke's Bay, Gisborne, Putaruru, Taihape, Whanganui and Masterton. The next mixed-age ewe fair is on January 31.
PRICES
Two-tooths: Patoka Station, Patoka, 405 rom, $257; Kiwikawa Station, Kawera Rd, 289 rom, $252; 300 rom, $244; 250 rom, $215; Watergreen Tourere, 391 romdale/wilt, $200; Smedley Station, Tikokino, 300 romdale, $222, 129 rom, $216; P King, Tikokino, 340 rom, $200; J and M Wilson, Ongaonga, 249 rom, $252; 190 rom, $254; 155 rom, $251; 73 rom, $212; 63 rom, $195; Ngahere Station, Omakere, 331 rom, $230; 60 rom, $192; Naumai Farm Trust, Tutira, 505 rom (cap stock) $236; C and T Zant, Kairakau, 400 wilt, $317; 170 wilt, $270; 176 romdale/wilt, $180; C and J McCool, Kereru, 361 rom (cap stock) $211; Cameron Ag, Argyll, 440 rom, $210; D and K Tobin, Omakere, 406 rom, (all cap stock) $201; 110 rom, $188; Te Whangai P/ship, Rotohiwi, 314 rom, $250; 255 rom, $241; Waiterenui , Raukawa, 260 rom, $195; Ngahere Station, Wakarara, 269 romdale, $201; Lake Station, Wanstead, 188 rom, $202; R and H Pastoral, Wanstead, 203 romdale, $205; 76 rom, $201; B and E Tuanui, Whakapirau Rd, 204 rom, $200; J Olsen, Taupo, 179 peren, (cap stock) $162; 16 peren-cross, $132; R Hunt, St Georges Rd, 139 rom, $180; Ngapua Ag, Mangaorapa, 103 rom, $220; Majella Farming, Speedy Rd, 52 rom/highlander, $187; Jessep Family Trust, Kaiwaka, 100 romdale, $210. Four-tooths and mixed-age: D and K Tobin, Omakere, (all cap stock) 365 rom, $186; 323 6th rom, $190; 146 m/a rom, $156; C and J McCool, Kereru, (cap stock) 250 4th rom, $201; 92 4-th rom, $197; Naumai Farm Trust, Tutira, (cap stock) 443 4th romdale, $225; 250 6th romdale, $207; 216 6th romdale, $209; 279 4yr romdale, $209; 80 m/a romdale, $162; 213 5yr romdale, $185; Tutoro Farm, Kereru, (cap stock) 200 m/a rom, $180; 200 m/a rom, $175; 186 m/a rom, $157; Campden Farm, Waiwhare, 139 m/a rom, $188; Waiwhare Station, Waiwhare, (cap stock) 190 3/4yr rom, $192; KCRB Farming, Omakere, 178 4yr rom, $171; K and N Hall, Porangahau, 196 m/a romdale, $172; Kerry Downs P/ship, Te Pohue, 329 m/a rom-cross, $162; Pleasant Valley Holdings, Waiwhare, 133 m/a rom, $154; Est AW Parsons, Wallingford, 192 m/a rom, $178; Mangatawhiti Station, Wairoa, 97 m/a rom, $200; 130 5yr rom, $187; 304 5yr rom, $183; Mingi Valley, 135 2/4-th rom-cross, $120; Matariki Trust, Ashley Clinton, 327 5yr rom, $174; Patoka Station, 274 5yr rom, $171; Toronui Station, Mokamoka, 165 5yr romdale, $186; Carswell Farm, Puketitiri, 200 5yr romdale, $172; Shannon Station, Wairoa, 300 5yr rom, $193; 247 5yr rom, $177; Arohiwi Station, Puketitiri, 100 5yr rom, $181; 137 5yr rom, $177; p Te Ngaio Farm, Porangahau, 305 5yr rom, $152; Pukerangi Station, Omakere, 2452 5yr rom, $136; Forest Home Farm, Wakarara, 175 5yr rom, $125; C and J Lee, Kaiwaka, 100 5yr rom, $146; Waikonini P/ship, Otamauri, 147 5yr rom, $153; 4 Kings, Kairakau, 170 5yr rom, $142; Russco, Bush Rd, 114 5yr rom, $156; Seaview Station, Patoka, 118 5yr rom, $152.