Lambs, ewes sell well at Stortford

Good grass growth after last week's rain meant a big yarding of 9000 store lambs and ewes sold strongly at yesterday's Stortford Lodge sale.

The tally was lifted by the presence of about 4000 head from Gisborne and Wairoa vendors selling in Hawke's Bay because of recent strong demand.

Some pens were showing signs of the drought but others were of top quality.

A line of 839 romney and romdale ewes offered by Mark Pedlow, Wakarara, made up to $122.

The cattle yarding of just fewer than 300 head featured empty dairy heifers and 18-month Chatham Island cattle.

The dairy heifers have been grazing around Hawke's Bay from the Waikato and those vetted empty were sold yesterday.

Buyers were from around Hawke's Bay, Rangitikei, Wairarapa, Manawatu, Christchurch, Invercargill and Gisborne.

CATTLE

Cows: M Pedlow, Wakarara, (Cap stock) nine m/a ang, rwb, av weight, 515kg, 196c/kg, $1010/head; seven m/a here-cross cows, rwb, av weight, 533kg, 193c/kg, $1030/head; Mokopeka Station, Maraetotara, three ang with three calves at foot, av weight, 610kg, 229c/kg, $1402/head.
Steers: B and J Lee, Kaiwaka, five 2½yr ang, av weight, 471kg, 291c/kg, $1385/head. 18mnth, H and S Galvan, Wairoa, 16 ang, av weight, 410kg, 313c/kg, $1285/head; G and E Cameron, Chatham Island, nine 16mnth here, av weight, 290kg, 333c/kg, $970/head; E Chisholm and B Tuanui, Chatham Island, 18 here-cross, av weight, 287kg, 335c/kg, $1020/head; 17 the same, av weight, 251kg, 326c/kg, $820/head; Ohinemana Farm, Chatham Island, nine here-cross, av weight, 285kg, 332c/kg, $950/head. Wnr, P Heald, Takapau, six ang-cross, av weight, 121kg, 411c/kg, $497/head.
Bulls: Black Stag Station, Tutira, four 2½yr ang, av weight, 691kg, 290c/kg, $2010/head.
Heifers: 18mnth, Alton Farm, Wairoa, 11 ang and ang-here, av weight, 326kg, 308c/kg, $1005/head; 12 ang, av weight, 269kg, 293c/kg, $790/head; seven here-fries, av weight, 273kg, 313c/kg, $855/head; G and E Cameron, Chatham Island, 15 here, av weight, 267kg, 311c/kg, $830/head; E Chisholm and B Tuanui, Chatham Island, 13 here, av weight, 262kg, 297c/kg, $780/head; Ohinemana Farm, Chatham Island, seven here-cross, av weight, 334kg, 294c/kg, $985/head; seven here, av weight, 256kg, 292c/kg, $750/head; Western Hills, Dartmoor, six charo-cross, av weight, 345kg, 290c/kg, $1005/head; M Pedlow, Wakarara, five here, av weight, 305kg, 291c/kg, $890/head; Rangitupae, Highway 50, five crossbred, av weight, 315kg, 292c/kg, $920/head.
Southern Pastures, 11 fries, av weight, 348kg, 218c/kg, $760/head; Highline Agriculture, seven fries, av weight, 320kg, 220c/kg, $705/head; Montheo Farms, five fries, av weight, 351kg, 230c/kg, $810/head; seven dairy-cross, av weight, 308kg, 206c/kg, $637/head; Isador Farms, seven fries, av eight, 370kg, 235c/kg, $870/head; Barron Farms, five dairy-cross, av weight, 339kg, 214c/kg, $725/head.

SHEEP

Ewes: M Pedlow, Wakarara, (Cap stock) 148 m/a rom, $122; 130 m/a rom, $109.50; 169 romdale, $117; 204 m/s romdale, $110.50; 90 m/a, $102; 44 m/a, $109.50; 54 m/a, $71; G and E Cameron, Chatham Island, 140 m/a, $111; 66 m/a, $90; E Chisholm, Chatham Island, 32 5yr, $96; Waikaripi Farm, Chatham Island, 24 m/a, $81.50; eight m/a, $96.50; Awanui Farm, Hatuma, 40 2th, rwr, $123.50; 34 2th rwr, $121.
Lambs: D and J Willis, Porangahau, 324 c/o, $91; 173 b/f m/s, $90; Kowhai Downs, Kaiwaka, 504 male, $92.20; Huiarau Station, Tokomaru Bay, 279 b/f ewe, $86; 203 b/f m/s, $92.25; 274 male, $90.50; 198 male, $86.50; 117 b/f m/s, $85.50; 98 male, $84; Tangihau Station, Rere, 613 male, $88; 208 male, $93; 242 b/f m/s, $91.50; 103 ewe, $83; 83 male, $80; 180 ewe, $83; Rocky Range, Ridgemount, 356 wether, $79.50; 169 wether, $80.50; 204 ewe, $72; 216 wether, $79; Rangatira E Trust, Taupo, 230 ewe, $77.50; C and J Lee P/ship, Waipunga, 108 male, $91.50; Anewa Station, Wairoa, 119 ewe, $73; 232 ewe, $70; 68 ram, $81.50; 130 male, $72.75; Shannon Station, Ohuka, 162 b/f ewe, $84; 74 b/f ram, $89.50; H Pickett, Wairoa, 77 b/f male, $95.50; 86 b/f ewe, $81; 93 b/f ewe, $88; 83 b/f male, $86; Penrith Farm, Ongaonga, 81 ram, $93.50; B Chrystal, Tutira, 225 male, $89; 137 ram, $82; 79 b/f m/s, $87; 117 ram, $77; L Bayliss, Putorino, 122 wether, $78.70; B and T Lee, Kaiwaka, 102 c/o, $92; Inangatahi P/ship, Puketitiri, 142 ewe, $75.50; 86 male, $84.50; 162 male, $77; M Pedlow, Wakarara, 87 ewe, $98.50; 65 male, $109.50; 51 ewe, $79; 60 male, $86; Watts and Son, Tutira, 115 ram, $82.50; 83 ewe, $77; Totara Hills, Tikokino, 54 m/s, $85; Woodfield Ltd, Waipawa, 49 ram, $86.50; B and J Nelson, Ashley Clinton, 45 b/f m/s, $94.50; K Thomas, Chatham Island, 88 m/s, $117.70; Earnmore Farm, Waipukurau, 44 male, $78; Waikaripi Farm, Chatham Island, 22 m/s, $132.50; 30 m/s, $97.75.

Prime sale

Ewe and lamb prices rose sharply at Monday's prime sale.

Lighter ewe prices were noticeably higher in response to higher schedule prices. Prices for the small offering of lambs rose due to a shortage of supply after last week's rain and the Easter chill demand.

Lamb finishers are keeping lambs to heavier weights as the grass grows after the rain. Some meat plants are only processing lambs two or three days a week.

Cattle prices remained steady for the offering of 84 head.

CATTLE

Oxen: (Ang, here-fries) Av weight, 490kg to 576kg, 263c/kg to 291c/kg, $1288/head to $1671/head.
Heifers: (Ang, charo-cross, fries) Av weight, 360kg to 615kg, 251c/kg to 262c/kg, $943/head to $1604/head.
Cows: (Ang, ang-here, ang-cross) Av weight, 360kg to 619kg, 150c/kg to 207c/kg, $540/head to $1232/head.

SHEEP

Ewes: Woolly, heavy, $122. Slipe, heavy, $120; good, $93, $94; med, $81; 2th, $83.50; shorn, good, $90 to $95.50; med, $80; lighter, $70 to $79.
Lambs: Male, $110.50 to $126.50; m/s, $81 to $109.50; b/f, $89.