Land use changes have altered the line-up of rams on offer.
Eddington said that while Romneys were still a strong breed, they were struggling a wee bit as times changed. Terminal rams were doing quite well at the current sales.
Mackay asked about the meat breeds - what was in vogue at the moment?
Eddington pointed to Poll Dorsets, Suffolks, South Suffolks and Southdowns and said quite a few on-farm sales happened with these rams as well.
He said farmers were looking for early maturing, ready in three to four months, and this seemed to be the way it was going.
Eddington turned to the number of enquiries PGG Wrightson was receiving at the moment for Wiltshires.
Mackay remarked on the Wiltshire’s self-shedding - no shearing needed, but wondered whether it was a slippery slope to go down.
He reckoned the “wool guys” said strong wool had to make a come-back because it was a sustainable, natural product - we just had to find more uses for it.
Listen below:
When you go down the Wiltshire track, it was a long time breeding it back out, Mackay said.
Eddington agreed that strong wool was poised for a come-back in the next two to three years but at the moment farmers were getting big bills for shearing sheep.
However, he was quick to point out that you couldn’t blame the shearers for putting their prices up.
To finish, Mackay put in a plug for a dispersal sale coming up in Nelson.
Eddington said it was at the Brightwater sale yards on February 17.
The sale features Suffolks, Hillside Suffolks and Romney ewes.
Eddington said a lot of interest was expected in the Suffolks, with good genetics all the way through.
