MERINO ewes got off on the right foot at the beginning of spring, selling from $150 to $200, but have dropped in the past month.
However, a growing trend toward buying sheep vaccinated against Ovine Johne’s Disease (OJD), especially in the southern end of the State, could see vendors gain an advantage in the saleyards.
According to McCarron Cullinane Chudleigh agent Adam Chudleigh, Orange, 11/2 year old, autumn-drop ewes were selling from $150 to $200 but have now dropped to the $90 to $120 mark.
Mr Chudleigh, who trades regularly at the Central West Livestock Exchange, Forbes, said buyers were looking for the better bred sheep and paying for quality.
“Buyers are shifting to be realistic with the market – we have had a pretty good season at Forbes but for about a 100 kilometre radius around Forbes it starts to drop off,” he said.
At last week’s Naracoorte annual ewe sale in South Australia, there was solid competition for sheep vaccinated against OJD, however Mr Chudleigh said this would not become a trend throughout his area or in the north of the State due to OJD prevalence zones.
“It’s not that they are more popular but it’s more about the systems farmers have in place,” he said.
“There are only a few that vaccinate around here because we are in a low prevalence area.”
Further south at Wagga Wagga, Merino ewes are trading about the same price according to GJ Hulm director Isaac Hill, Wagga.
“For good quality, joinable ewes we are seeing about $90 to $125,” he said.
Mr Hill said about 30 per cent of producers from the Wagga district were vaccinating against OJD and were seeing benefit at the saleyards.
“It’s hard to put a price on it when it comes to vaccination but buyers are showing a preference – there are more people willing to buy vaccinated sheep over non-vaccinated.”
Greg Ryan, livestock manager at Landmark, Yass, said he didn’t know of anybody not vaccinating against OJD in his area because of the higher prevalence of the disease in the area.
“Most of our blokes around here do it but what that means for buyers is they can buy with confidence.”
Mr Ryan said next week’s Yass circuit sheep sale would be their “first real test”.
“The market is very hit and miss at the moment with younger ewes making $80, $90 and even $100 at the moment while there were some five year old ewes that made $66.”
Mr Ryan said Merino ewes were a bit of a rarity at the moment so they should bring a premium “if you have got the right article”.
“The prices won’t get up to the dizzy heights of previous years but they will go up.”
