Perendale ram tops South Island ram fair sale at $8600

Surrounding the top-priced ram at this week's Gore ram fair are (from left, back) buyers Matt McKelvie, of Wyndham, and Mike McElrea, of West Otago, with Carrfields auctioneer Andrew Holt and genetics representatives Callum Dunnett and Roger Keach; and (front) Fraser Darling, of Dunedin, vendor Howie Gardner, of South Otago, and buyer David McKelvie. Photo: Nicole Sharp

South Otago farmers Howie and Marion Gardner topped the South Island ram fair in Gore this week, selling a Perendale ram for $8600.

It was bought by the McKelvie family, from Wyndham, and Mike McElrea, from Edievale.

It was a solid sale for Perendales as 37 rams sold for an average of $2686. Richard and Kerry France, from Moa Flat, achieved the second-top price, $8500, for a ram sold to Fernvale Genetics.

Carrfields Otago genetics representative Roger Keach said the two-day sale was sound but not spectacular, with a lot of good rams not finding homes.

Suffolks had a strong sale. The Gibson family, from Middlemarch, sold a ram for $4000 to Fernvale Genetics and another for $3300 to Graeme Black, of Riverton, while Alistair Lindsay, of Otautau, also sold a ram for $4000 to Norman Carr, from Mayfield.

Poll Dorsets were topped by Trevor Potter, from Pukerau, who sold rams for $6000 to Sarah Adams and $3000 to Punchbowl Genetics and also enjoyed strong sales of commercial rams, Mr Keach said.

South Suffolks were topped by Trevor and Doris McCall, from Gore, and Jim and Anne Berney, from Owaka, who both sold rams for $2000.

Sharon and Laurie Paterson, from Greenvale, sold a Texel ram for $3700 to Nathan and Joy Dodd, from Wyndham, and another ram for $3000.

John Spellman, of Te Kuiti, sold a Cheviot for $3000, David Robertson (Palmerston) topped the Romneys at $1600, Guy Letham (Ashburton) sold a Dorset Down for $2500, Ross and Tracey McCall (West Otago) sold a Southdown for $2000, Fraser Fletcher (Heriot) sold a Coopworth for $1500 and Westmere Farming (Mid Canterbury) sold three Border Leicesters at $1500.