The iconic Rollesby Valley Lamb Sale, which attracted a record number of buyers this year, was held on Thursday 8 February.

It’s a big couple of days for the South Canterbury PGG Wrightson Livestock team with the teams working on Wednesday and Thursday morning to prepare the ewes and lambs for sale from 11am on Thursday. It is a big logistical exercise with 12 vendors, nine locations, over 20,000 lambs and ewes on offer which are located in and around Rollesby Valley near Fairlie. It is one of the biggest on farm lamb sales in the South Island.

The shared-vendor sale has been running for 24 years and came about as the local farmers agreed it would be great to get the lambs off their farms in one go, rather than drafting until June. Fairlie-based PGG Wrightson Livestock Agent Bruce Dunbar was key to co-ordinating the first sale.

After the sale Joe Higgins, PGG Wrightson Regional Livestock Manager said, “We are extremely happy with how the day went and all of the vendors are pleased with their results – with all up on last year by $15 to $25. It is always challenging logistically selling a large number of lambs and travelling from property to property, and keeping the momentum of the sale going but the day went very well. Over the years the sale has gained a good reputation and was well supported by a strong gallery of repeat buyers. About five years ago 70% of the lambs sold went south, now 70% of them go to Mid Canterbury to lamb finishers. Top price on the day was $149 at Herb and Cate Ross’s Single Hill Station for a pen of 125 Perendale Wether lambs. The interest in half bred lambs was strong with a top price of $102 at both Mt Dalgety Station and Ranui Station.”