As the hundreds of crossbred and purebred calves mooed and bellowed, people in the packed sales arena stood to remember two well-known identities - sale stalwart and breeder of Simmental-Charolais-cross cattle Robert (Bruce) Murray and the auctioneer long associated with the PGG Wrightson annual sale, stock agent Robin Gamble, who both died last year.
There was little room as buyers, vendors, stock agents, truckers, tourists and onlookers packed the arena.
Next year the annual sale, long known for its excellent range of stock, will move to the Balclutha saleyards 30km away.
''Back then there were two saleyards here in Owaka and many of my relatives also brought stock to sell here,'' he said as he sat watching the 61st and final sale.
PGG Wrightson's senior Balclutha livestock representative Craig Dempster said recently that the Owaka sale was highly regarded in the industry and had been seen as an indicator on prices for the coming calf sale season.
''But a combination of the deteriorating state of the yards, health and safety concerns, its low usage and a move to more efficient electronic sales operations will see the annual calf sale move to the Balclutha sale yards in 2020,'' he said.
PGGW auctioneer Chris Swale took up the mantle of cajoling the crowd of buyers to get the best price for his clients.
The R.B. Murray estatetopped the prices with $1150 paid for each of 18 Charolais-cross steers.
-By John Cosgrove
