The rather grandly named Feilding Supplementary Hogget Fair took just over one hour to sell 7100 hoggets yesterday.
With the Monday prime sale attracting much larger yardings of prime lambs and hoggets in recent years, the entries were never likely to be large, and one of the two major livestock companies did not enter any sheep.
The sheer number of heavy hoggets exceeded the ability of the large traders to "blend" them into their drafts, and these heavy sheep sell for marginally less the heavier they get above the medium weight hoggets.
They still record the headline prices, however, with Kim Richardson's Wereroa Partnership, Marton, selling 277 male hoggets for $188 and 76 ewe hoggets for $162 to claim line honours in both sections and Tom Willis, Marton, was second across the line, selling 227 male hoggets for $179.
The heaviest hoggets eased back somewhat from recent highs, influenced by the higher numbers, but the store hoggets offered continued to sell to solid demand. Selling these sheep today will naturally reduce numbers for upcoming prime and store sales.
Total (7104): 52-64kg, $157-$188, $2.93-$3.33; 46-50kg, $154.50-$171, $3.18-$3.49; 41-45kg, $137-$158.50, $3.15-$3.60; 30-40kg, $125-$150, $3.54-$4.16.