On an overcast day in the Riverina last Friday, a crowd estimated at 400 saw 31,000 Merino sheep yarded for the Hay Merino Breeders Inc. annual spring sale for total clearance.
The top price for Merino ewes was $210 paid for the pen of 481 April/May 2015 drop, Poll Collinsville-blood and August-shorn, offered by Sally Morphett, “Coulpataro”, Booligal, while Con Fattore, “Abercrombie”, Hay received $124 for the tops of his Merino wether lambs, May/June 2016 drop, Bluebush-blood and unshorn.
Indicative prices included $210 to $124 for Merino ewes 2015 drop, $154 to $150 for Merino ewes 2014 drop, $170 to $160 for Merino ewes 2012 drop and $113 to $111 for Merino ewes 2010 drop.
In the pens of ewes 2016 drop, prices ranged from $156 to $128, while for the same age wethers, prices varied from $124 to $80.
Restockers were very active in the market, with processors purchasing very few lots: and sheep went to Narracoorte, Bendigo, Swan Hill, Forbes, Boort, Birchip, Yarrawonga and Shepparton, while Riverina producers from Denilquin, Hay, Griffith, Narrandera, Cowra, Echuca, Wagga Wagga and Finley also competed with success.
Elders, Hay, livestock agent Mark ‘Mouse’ Newnham, active at his last Hay sheep sale said the market was about “$30 down on the top end of the young ewes, but the middle pens sold strongly.”
“The quality of the young ewes ran out towards the end, and the wether lambs sold on par with recent sales,” Mr Newnham said.
Landmark, Hay, agent Geoff McDougall, said the pens of older ewes sold well, with values on par with the September sale.
“The sheep looked fantastic, and the wether lambs sold to expectations,” Mr McDougall said.
Significant sales of 2015 drop ewes included 384 April/May drop, Bluebush-blood and August-shorn sold account Roger and Jacqui Job, “Tholloloboy”, Mossgiel, for $192, and 395 June/July drop, Pooginook-blood and September shorn sold by Gordon and Bronwyn Turner, “Brassbutt”, Booligal for $190.
Will Armstrong, “Minarto”, Oxley also recieved $190 for his pen of 328 June/July 2015 drop ewes, Alma-blood and September shorn.
In the older ewes, the Merrylees family, “Groongal”, Carrathool, sold the tops of their May/June 2014 drop, Bluebush-blood and September shorn for $150, while Will Armstrong, Minarto”, Oxley, sold 682 June 2011 drop, Alma-blood and September shorn ewes for $146.
Mr Armstrong further sold 323 June 2016 unshorn ewes, Alma-blood for $128.
A feature of the sale was the complete dispersal of the Merino flock account Con Fattore, “Abercrombie”, Hay, who saw the tops of his May/June 2016 drop ewes, Bluebush-blood and unshorn sold for $156, while his May/June 2012 drop ewes, The Yanko/Bluebush-blood and October shorn sold for $160.
Bede Schiller, “Raheen”, Hay, yarded sheep in a flock reduction and recieved $188 for 298 Merino ewes, May/June 2015 drop, Poll Collinsville-blood and August shorn, and $196 for his pen of 524 May/June 2013 drop, same description.
Paul Dye, “Tchelery”, Moulamein, sold 578 April/May 2016 wether lambs, Alma-blood and unshorn for $119, while Donald Bull, Irroy”, Conargo, sold 509 wether lambs, June/July 2016 drop, Woodpark-blood and unshorn for $116.
Hay Associated Agents, Elders and Landmark conducted the sale in conjunction.
