Sheep vendors were thrilled with their returns when their ewes sold dearer than forecasted prices at Monday’s first cross ewe sale held at the South Eastern Livestock Exchange (SELX), Yass, for the first time after a venue move from the Goulburn saleyards.
The near 10,000 head yarding topped at $280 and averaged $235 for what was described as a strong sale with competition coming from return buyers with confidence bolstered by the widespread good season.
Regular vendor at the sale, Robert Hain, Cooma, topped the sale when he sold 220 September 2015-drop Border Leicester cross Merino ewes for $280 through Elders Cooma.
The Egalbra/Normanhurst blood ewes were purchased by Patterson Livestock, Wagga. Mr Hain, who sold a second pen of 108 same age ewes for $260, averaged $275 for his 328 offering.
“I can’t complain about that sort of money, it was a higher average than I expected,” Mr Hain said.
Gunning vendor Brent Medway, Tolldale Pastoral Company, sold close to 800 head at the inaugural Yass sale. His top-line of 260 1.5 year-old Border Leicester cross Merino ewes returned $278 through Elders Goulburn, while a second pen of the same age ewes made $276 sold through J. Hindmarsh and Co., Braidwood.
“We breed the ewes to sell at this sale,” Mr Medway said.
“My late father and I have been putting sheep in this sale since the early 90’s. I am extremely pleased with the sale results and facilities.”
Selling agent Greg Anderson, M.D and J.J Anderson, Crookwell, said he was happy with the prices considering the delayed shift in season.
“A lot of people haven’t sold their lambs yet, holding on to them because of the long winter, so we are about a month later than usual,” he said.
“I was worried that buyers weren’t ‘cashed up’ and in a position to buy in ewes. But I think because of the surplus feed this year they had the confidence to buy.”
Andersons sold 100 Tolldale first cross ewes for $264 and 360 ewes offered by Ashley and Gill Gilbert, “Kingsvale”, Binda, for $252.
Duncombe and Co., Crookwell, sold 161 ewes for $268 to Patterson Livestock, Wagga, on behalf of Matt Croker, “Homesville”, Fullerton and 132 ewes for Tony and Natalie Hewitt, Grabben Gullen, for $240.
Landmark Goulburn’s top-price was with Dean and Meg McIntosh, Laggan, who sold a pen of 41 1.5 year-old ewes for $268. Also selling through Landmark was Martin, Margaret and Ben Croker, Goulburn, who sold 144 July/August-drop ewes for $266 and the Reynolds family of Twyzel Pastoral Company, Lake Bathurst, sold 61 ewes for $264.
Phil Butt, Butt Livestock and Property, Yass, sold a pen of 130 Tolldale ewes for $255 and 141 first cross ewes offered by John Shaw, Rutherford Pastoral Co., Gunning, for $247.
Shorn lambs ranged in price from $110 to $178 and unshorn lambs ranged in price from $86 to $138.
