SOUTHERN buyers snapped up the opportunity of securing first-cross and Merino ewes early, before the spring buying rush, pushing prices up in the small yarding of 220 head at the August monthly Narromine store sheep sale last Wednesday.
Landmark Wilson Russ Narromine agent Ashley McGilchrist, said first-cross ewes were not overly abundant at present.
“Time will tell if many numbers will come forward in the next couple of months,” he said.
“We saw people from the south who have picked up some pre-spring rain now looking early for replacements.”
Ray Townsend, “Glenavy”, Eugowra, was one second-cross prime lamb producer doing just that.
He runs 2500 first-cross ewes with his father, Tony and sons Lincoln and Sam, and purchased 273 ewes from $160 to the sale top of $200, averaging $180.
These replacements will be joined to Ridgehaven Poll Dorset rams for the sucker market with lambs planning to be sold at 20 to 22 kilograms at four months of age.
The top pen of 48 August/September 2016 drop, August shorn first-cross ewes came from Ray and Deanne Packham, “Sunny Ridge”, Narromine.
Edward Whittle, “Alloway”, Narromine, gained $188 a head for 89 first-cross ewes September/October ‘16 drop, January shorn also selling to Mr Townsend.
The Boyd family, “Riverview”, Narromine, gained $190 a head for 34 first-cross ewes, August’16 drop and November shorn.
Chris and Rebecca O’Malley, “Carinya”, Narromine, sold 102 first-cross ewes December’16/January‘17 drop July shorn for $160 each.
Topping the Merino section at $185 a head was a line of 402 ewes of Haddon Rig blood September/October 2016 drop and July shorn bred by Kevin and Rose Marie Perry, “Rothsay”, Quambone, and purchased by Mr Perry’s brother, Brian and Janet Perry, “Sandhurst”, Quambone for their first-cross breeding program.
Curragh Pastoral Company sold 297 Merino mixed-age ewes March shorn and joined to Border Leicester rams and now lambing at $126 a head.
The Gardner family, Paddabilla Station, sold 157 mixed-age Merino wethers of Wilgunyah blood at $56.
