Steady prices in a smaller yarding

With a smaller yarding than last week, fewer buyers and stock of less quality, the Dannevirke sheep sale was slightly down on the excellent prices of the big sale the week before but fairly typical of June sales.

Phill Robson of Carrfields Livestock said the Hawkes Bay buyers were missing this week, but the schedule is rising and this should mean an increase in prime fat stock prices. Roger Watts also of Carrfields said there is a shortage of prime ewes at present.

Prices for prime stock ranged from the top price of $121.50 for nine male lambs to $90 on average for prime ewes.

It was a similar story in the store lamb market with several large pens of good quality crypto lambs reaching $100 but most of the crypto and ewe lambs ranging between $80 and $90 depending on quality, with small pens bargaining out at $50.