Meikleburn, Clayton and Four Peaks stations combine to offer 13,000 lambs, expecting plenty of buyers, including from mixed cropping sector.

Almost 13,000 lambs were offered at the season’s final South Canterbury on-farm lamb sale on 10 March.

Sales at three Fairlie high country properties progressed in sequence on the day. Starting at Meikleburn Station, the sale moved to Clayton Station, before concluding at Four Peaks Station.

PGG Wrightson South Canterbury regional livestock manager Joe Higgins said the stock offered included both prime and store lambs.

“This was the last of our on-farm lamb sales for this season. Starting back in late November, they have been popular. Lambs available on the day are undrafted. They have been weaned since January, including from half bred and quarter bred ewes.

“After being delayed coming to the party due to the weather holding up their harvest, Canterbury arable farmers are now motivated to buy lambs and should be out in force at these sales. They have been good supporters in the past and will be looking to supplement income in the spring by finishing some of these lambs,” he says.

Hamish Orbell is the third generation of his family to farm 4100-hectare Clayton Station. He is offering 5720 ewe and wether lambs, comprising black face half breds, poll Dorsets, and quarter breds. He was looking forward to the sale.

“Positivity across the red meat sector is well signalled, and we were confident of a good sale, possibly even with prices above what we have budgeted. Farmers are planning for the medium to long term with much greater certainty, which is great for everyone. However, for breeders, while last year’s result was favourable, the last ten years or so have been difficult, so good times now give us an opportunity to recoup on that.

“We have regular buyers we looking forward to seeing at the sale, including several from the cropping sector. They have faced two or three difficult seasons. Where the red meat market is at makes buying some Clayton Station lambs an opportunity for some respite in the coming months, particularly if they take wool off before sending the lambs away,” says Hamish. 

Meikleburn Station also offered 400 cattle on the day, comprising 150 18-month Angus steers and 250 18-month Angus heifers. These cattle are owner bred. With the season we are having this number of beef cattle coming forward to the market should create some interest. 

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