Monaro sheep producers are destocking due to continued dry autumn, and selling lambs earlier than usual.
More than 4000 sheep were yarded along with 4500 lambs on a cold day, for a total clearance for the good lines of lambs, restocker sheep and mutton on offer.
Cooma Associated Agents conducted the sale, with duty agency Boller and Co, principal, ‘Chippy’ Boller reporting all the usual buyers were present, and operating in a strong market.
“It was a strong market with prices pushing higher on both lambs and sheep by $5 to $10,” Mr Boller said.
Indicative prices showed heavy trade lambs sold for $136 to $159, while medium weights varied in price from $114 to $133.
Lighter trade lambs sold from $95 to $118, with very plain, store types met limited demand and sold for $58 to $80.
Lines of Merino wethers sold from $106 to $135, with best ewes on offer sold from $90 to $118.
The offering of light and plain sheep sold from $30 to $70.
In the good selection of Merino wethers penned, Fraser Brothers, “Thornleigh”, Adaminaby, sold 247 three and half to four and half year sheep, October-shorn and Snowy Plains/Main Range-blood for $135.
Jeff Fraser said the wethers were in good condition due to an excellent season on the eastern side of the Monaro, and the sheep were only being sold due to surplus to requirement.
“The market was up a bit, it was a really good sale,” Mr Fraser said.
The partnership also sold 142 one and half year wethers, October-shorn for $125, and 108 five and half year Merino ewes, August-shorn for $114.
Max and Carol Caldwell, Bungarby, sold 104 Merino wethers, Greenland-blood, and October-shorn for $130.
Quality second-cross lambs penned sold to $159 for 16 offered on account McPhie family, “Wainui”, Cooma, while Caldwell and Kennedy, Bunyan, sold 24 prime lambs for $148.
Bill and Moira Shanley, Cooma, sold 36 second-cross lambs for $148, and the Blyton family, Numeralla, sold 18 second-cross lambs for $146.
Livestock agents, Boller and Co, Elders and Landmark, all of Cooma conducted the sale.