Strong interest from outside buyers saw lamb prices lift by $8 to $10 at Stortford Lodge yesterday.
Some lambs are showing the effects of the drought and wind drying out feed. However, they were the pens that showed the biggest improvement in price.
The cattle yarding of about 140 head was back on earlier sales, a reflection of the quality of the offering. Buyers were from Christchurch, Carterton, Taupo, Kumeu, Waiuku, Ohakune, Gisborne and Atiamuri as well as Hawke's Bay.
CATTLE
Cows and calves: J Anderson, Rissington, three dairy-cross, three calves, av weight, 538kg, 191c/kg, $1030/head.
Steers: K and J Farquharson, Patoka, 12 2½yr here-cross, av weight, 430kg, 262c/kg, $1130/head. 18mnth, K and J Farquharson, Patoka, 12 here-fries, av weight, 351kg, 285c/kg, $1002/head; Pukekautuku, Taihape Rd, seven ang, av weight, 318kg, 284c/kg, $905/head; Parinui Family Trust, Okawa, 15 crossbred, av weight, 453kg, 262c/kg, $1190/head.
Bulls: N Grant, Waipawa, five 18mth fries, av weight, 455kg, 245c/kg, $1114/head. Wnr, Waikura Farm, Tutira, 13 fries-cross, av weight, 131kg, 332c/kg, $435/head; nine the same, av weight, 144kg, 226c/kg, $325/head; seven dairy-cross, av weight, 127kg, 228c/kg, $290/head.
Heifers: 18mth, K and J Farquharson, Patoka, 14 here-fries, av weight, 328kg, 268c/kg, $882/head; J and O Mitchell, Eskdale, 12 ang-here, av weight, 367kg, 272c/kg, $1000/head; Hope and Low P/ship, Matapiro, 10 here-fries, av weight, 406kg, 260c/kg, $1060/head; M Raroa, Tikitiki, six here-cross, av weight, 296kg, 236c/kg, $700/head.
SHEEP
Ewes: Tumuhau Trust, Aorangi Rd, 22 2th, $80.
Lambs: Waiwhare Station, Waiwhare, 445 b/f m/s, $65; 191 b/f m/s, $70; 124 b/f m/s, $57.50; Sherwood Properties, Sherenden, 154 c/o, $75.20; 100 c/o, $61; 124 c/o, $61.70; 97 c/o, $53.50; 88 c/o, $57.20; 63 c/o, $51; Patoka Station, Patoka, $70; Freethlands, Salisbury Rd, 257 c/o, $67; Glen Ora Holdings, Takapau, 144 weth, $62.50; 100 b/f ewe, $65; 47 b/f weth, $55; Glentui P/ship, Tikokino, 154 c/o, $64.50; 76 ewe, $64.70; Rachan Farm, Salisbury Rd, 147 b/f c/o, $61; Waikonini P/ship, Otamauri, 200 weth, $65; 50 weth, $59; Manganoe Farm, Waihau, 139 male, $55; 126 ewe, $46; 56 ewe, $48; Glen Innes Station, Wanstead, 101 b/f m/s, $61; 29 b/f m/s, $55.50; Mangakuri Station, Elsthorpe, 271 c/o, $62; 235 c/o, $57.20; Punawai Farm, Ashcott, 225 ewe, $63.70; 182 ewe, $59; P and L O'Rourke, Rissington, 112 b/f m/s, $62.50; 41 m/s, $55.50; Sorensen P/ship, Kereru, 57 m/s, $60.50.
A big yarding of quality cattle sold on a firm market, grazing ewes sold well as did the best of the lambs at Monday's sale.
However, lesser lambs were harder to sell.
Again the feature of the cattle sale was the number of heavy cattle with four pens in the yarding of 103 head averaging more than 700kg and nine at more than 600kg.
There were also 28 boner friesian and jersey cows on offer.
CATTLE
Cows: (Fries, jersey, ang, simm-cross) Av weight, 302kg to 550kg, 127c/kg to 846c/kg, $384/head to $846/head.
Heifers: (Here-cross, simm-cross, fries, galloway, ang-cross, ang) Av weight, 446kg to 603kg, 220c/kg to 256c/kg, $981/head to $1554/head.
Oxen: (charo-cross, ang, here-fries, here-cross, ang-cross, here) Av weight, 525kg to 805kg, 254c/kg to 269c/kg, $1349/head to $2125/head.
Bulls: (Ang, ang-here) Av weight, 495kg to 1010kg, 191c/kg to 260c/kg, $1230/head to $1929/head.
SHEEP
Ewes: Woolly, good, $73 to $78.20; med, $64 to $69; lighter, $56.50; 2th, $80. Shorn, heavy, $78 to $87; good, $65 to $75.20; lighter, $59 to $64; 2th, $84.
Lambs: Hoggets, l/t, ewe, $70; ram, $63. Spring: male, $79 to $106.50; ewe, $76; m/s, $56.50 to $103; b/f, $84.50 to $112.