Young Merino breeders (2-4 years) returned a 100% clearance and a slight increase on the average from last week, being $244, up $9 with prices ranging from $141 to $357 on AuctionsPlus.
A line of 330 SIL ewes from Manangatang, VIC, A/c “NF & BT Templeton”, achieved the top price at $357 (pictured).
These ewes weigh 71kgs, are Jun/Jul ‘17 drop and have a 1.5” skin. Other highlights include a slightly heavier mob offered by the same vendor for 109 SIL ewes weighing 72kgs, May/Jun ‘17 drop, which sold for $343.
Sheep & lamb demand continued again last week with prices increasing across multiple categories.
Merino ewe prices remained strong with a $25 increase on the average from the previous week. Merino ewe hoggets saw the largest price increase selling from $165 to $315 to average $226, up $51.
The top price came from a line of 57kg NSM ewe hoggets from Grenfell, NSW, A/c “Rocklyn Merino”. These ewes are Rocklyn Merino blood and will remain locally. 620 NSM ewes from Ilfracombe, QLD, A/c “Dorothy L Mathews” have a long 1,500km walk ahead of them to Forbes in Central West, NSW. Selling for $219, these 2-year-old ewes weigh 37kg.
Proven Merino breeders (4-7 years) sold from $129 to $302, averaging $224 with an increase of $29 on last week. A/c “KL Kuhne” sold the top price lot of rising 6-year-old SIL ewes from Rand, NSW.
These ewes are joined to Poll Dorset rams, weighing 69kgs travelling to Coolamon, NSW. A line of 168 Merino breeders out of Kingston, SA sold for $292. Offered by A/c “Inver Park”, these mixed-aged ewes weigh 65kgs, and are heading towards the VIC border to Naracoorte, SA.
Clearance for Merino wethers & wether lambs remained strong among the 9,180 head offered this week.
Prices averaged $157, up $7 on last week, selling from $94 to $193. A large offering of 6,243 head of Merino wether lambs sold from $110 to $191, averaging $151, remaining firm on last week.
The top price was achieved by a line of 580 lambs out of Keith, SA. A/c “Lines Family Trust” were the lucky vendors, producing May/Jun 2019 drop, 45kg lambs with 1.5” wool. These lambs will be heading to Naracoorte SA. A/c “Wirryilka Pastoral” east of Broken Hill NSW, sold a line of 450 North Cowie blood Merino store wether lambs for $173 weighing 37kgs, Aug-Oct ‘19 drop with 1.5” wool.
These wethers are due to head east to Moree, NSW. Lambs from Jamestown, SA crossed the border up to Mildura, VIC offered by A/c “Baratta Pastoral” with 41kg Jul/Aug drop lambs, selling for $139.
Merino wethers saw a 100% clearance among the 2,937 head offered selling from $94 to $193, averaging $168, up $24 on last week. A final highlight saw three lines of 1,860 woolgrower wethers from Longreach, QLD secured by a buyer 2,100km away in Cranbourne, VIC.
First cross SIL ewes saw the average price drop again this week to $315, although recorded the top price across all stock categories for a line of 21-22-month-old SIL ewes which sold for $413.
Offered A/c “Aitken & Meehan Farming”, from Beckom, NSW, these ewes were joined to excellent quality Kurralea Poll Dorset rams, weighing 80kgs with 1.1” skin, and will be making their way north to Ungarie in the South West Slopes & Plains of NSW.
First cross ewe lambs sold from $141 to $340, averaging $259. A/c “Aitken & Meehan Farming” also offered the top price for future breeder 58kg, May/Jun ’19 drop lambs from Beckom, NSW heading south to Goulburn, NSW.
Most first cross ewe lambs stayed relatively local with only three lots heading interstate; two of which were offered by vendor “M & C Gleadow”, from Violet Town, VIC with one line heading to Lavington, NSW and selling for $164, with the other line crossing the border to Strathalbyn, SA and selling for $250. First cross NSM ewes saw a $36 jump on the average this week, with prices between $161 and $278 and a strong clearance of 93% among the 1,264 head offered.
Vendor “Anthony Collins” saw the top price on their lot of 290 NSM ewes from Bridgewater On Loddon, VIC. These rising 4-year-old ewes weighed in at 64kgs with 2 ¾ ” skin, heading north east to Invergordon, VIC.