DRY conditions aside, the year finished well for sheep producers if trends at last week’s Narromine special store sheep sale were any indication.
As well, mutton values held well throughout December with continued larger numbers holding firm returns, up to last Monday’s Dubbo sheep and lambs prime sale.
Agents and meat buyers reported good flow-through and good prices for mutton all month although the last Dubbo sale resulted in a drop in values.
The Meat and Livestock Australia mutton indicator began the week at 211 cents a kilogram (carcase weight) and ended at 198c/kg.
The same period last year had mutton at 146c/kg, some 230c/kg behind in value for the same period in 2011.
Peadon Agencies principal Andrew Peadon, Trangie, said he wouldn’t like to guess at what sheep and lambs would make next year if a summer wet break eventuates.
At Narromine unjoined first-cross ewes topped at $131 ($134 last year) and while lower in numbers than the year before at just 2000 head, sold from $66 to average $94 – on par with the December average last year.
Merino values were much improved however, with the yarding of about 6000 ewes topping at $122 and selling from $41 to average $68.50.
Last year the Merino ewe yarding averaged $55.
The large crowd was predominantly local with southern and Victorian restockers putting a floor into the market.
Buyers came from Forbes, Lake Cargelligo, Peak Hill while larger purchases went to Bendigo and Echuca, Vic.
Landmark Narromine agent, Ashley McGilchrist said both first-cross and Merino ewe sales held up very well on last month’s values.
“Considering the quality and condition of many of the lots, they made good money really,” he said.
“Merinos came from Goodooga and Rowena regions as well as more local districts.”
Mr Peadon said sheep sold to expectations.
“Secondary plainer type young ewes were dearer than a month ago while first-cross ewes were on par.
“All considered the store lamb job was still selling well, even considering the prolonged dry.”
The Barber family trust at “Gilgai”, Narromine, topped the first-cross yarding at $131 for a pen of 268 March/April 2013-drop, September-shorn ewes selling to Echuca, Vic.
Armatree based Spora family, “Studholme”, gained $120 a head for 181 first-cross ewes September ’12 drop and August shorn while John Francis and family, “Tara”, Mumbil, sold 211 first-cross ewes August/September ’12 drop, October shorn at $114 to Echuca.
Merino ewes topped at $122 for 171 July/August ’12 drop of Egelabra and Moorundi Park blood, June shorn, bred by Phil Wallace, Coolabah Station, Coolabah, and purchased by Roger Hando, “Thornycroft”, Tomingley.
A draft of 212 April/May ’12-drop, August-shorn surplus Merino ewes from Steve and Kerry Swain, Genanegie stud, Peak Hill, made $118 a head when bought by Peter Green, “Lemah”, Peak Hill.
Jamie Green and family, “Kookaburra”, Goodooga, sold 450 Merino ewes August/September ’12 of Haddon Rig and Gingie blood, July shorn, for $88 to Owen Carter, Nyngan.
Robert Sevil, “Bunna Bunna”, Rowena, received $84.50 a head for a line of 403 Merino ewes, August/September ’12 drop Mumblebone blood, June shorn when bought for a Bendigo restocker.
Mixed-sex shorn store lambs topped at $70 while their woollie brothers and sisters made $68 in a draft of 133 White Suffolk-cross suckers lambed in August and September 2013. They went to Deniliquin.
