Farmers in fierce bidding for ewes

A shortage of breeding ewes produced some rabid bidding at the annual Blenheim Open Ewe Fair.

Not even miserable, wet conditions could stave off buyers from Marlborough, North Canterbury and Nelson, who turned out late last month to snap up some of the 4500 breeding ewes on offer at the Riverlands Selling Complex.

PGG Wrightson livestock manager Allister Orchard said there was strong competition in all classes of ewes at the sale.

Breeding ewes were few and far between this season because of changes in land use, and as a result, the bidding was fierce, he said.

The top prices for the day were $114 for 77 two-tooth corriedale ewes, and $103 for 203 five-year-old corriedale ewes from BW & KJ Murray, Waima Hills.

Brookbourne Farm, Ward: 43 six-year-old ewes $81, 185 annual draft ewes $76.

DW Landon-Lane, The Terraces: 45 two-tooth ewes $110.

R and S Henson, Ward: 82 four-year-old ewes $79, 34 four-year-old ewes $68.

Meadowbank Station, Blenheim: 44 annual draft ewes $68, 203 annual draft ewes $78.

RIA Mowat, Ward: 12 mixed-age ewes $53, 54 annual draft ewes $75.

BW and KJ Murray, Waima Hills: 77 two-tooth ewes $114, 21 two-tooth ewes $96, eight two-tooth ewes $49, 51 five-year-old ewes $53, 203 five-year-old ewes $103.

Peggioh Partnership, Ward: 19 annual draft ewes $56, 139 annual draft ewes $69.

SP Reid, Marchburn: 27 five-year-old ewes $55, 216 five-year-old ewes $93, 181 five-year-old ewes $78, 77 five-year-old ewes $74, 91 five-year-old ewes $67.

Stirling Brook, Seddon: 73 two-shear ewes $103, 88 two-shear ewes $102, 31 two-shear ewes $93.

Tempello Partnership, Blenheim: 39 five- and six-year-old ewes $53, 105 five- and six-year-old ewes $64.

CCR Waddy, Seddon: 176 annual draft ewes $81, 80 annual draft ewes $62.

Waitai Station, D'Urville Island: 29 annual draft ewes $61, 24 annual draft ewes $70, 100 annual draft ewes $91, 171 annual draft ewes $88, 87 annual draft ewes $73, 70 annual draft ewes $83, 81 annual draft ewes $72.

Flaxbourne Station, Seddon: 131 annual draft ewes $80, 66 annual draft ewes $71.

- The Marlborough Express