A total of 5863 sheep were yarded at the Yass first-cross ewe sale at South Eastern Livestock Exchange last Friday, with producers kicking off the year positively with strong prices across all categories.
Elders stock and station agent, Ben Seaman, Goulburn, said that prices were much stronger than the previous sale in November, driven mainly by a reduction in numbers offered and improvement in the condition of lambs.
“The market was very strong. It was much stronger than the last sale, with $10 to $15 increases in price across the ewe portion.”
“We are seeing a lot more weight in the lambs, which made them up to $15 dearer as well.”
It was much stronger than the last sale, with $10 to $15 increases in price across the ewe portion.
- Ben Seaman, Elders
“The woollier ewe lambs were somewhat cheaper however,” he said.
Of the total, 2869 first-cross ewes were sold, reaching a top of $294 on three occasions.
Michael Kelly, Golspie, made $294 for a run of 125 August 2016 drop, October-shorn, Border Leicester/Merino ewes.
S. and G. Romer, Sunsbury Pastoral Company, Bindam, also enjoyed the same top, selling a total of 240, October/November 2016 drop, September-shorn first-cross ewes.
G.D. and M.A. Croker, Golspie, sold 140 July/August drop, October-shorn ewes for the same top price.
John O’Brien, Crookwell, received a top of $280 for his 120 September 2016 drop, October-shorn first-cross ewes.
The average across the first-cross ewe market was $243 a head.
A total of 2,951 first-cross ewe lambs were sold, with the top price of $265 coming for ewe lambs from Brent Medway, Tolldale Management, Gunning.
The Medway’s also sold a further run of lambs to a top of $260.
The Kember Family, Ganmain, sold a total of 300 ewe lambs, the top 200 topping at $260 and the second run of 111 topping at $262.
Calgary Pastoral Company, Crookwell, sold the top run of 131 of their August/September drop, December shorn, from Avendale/Egelabra-blood ewe lambs for $174. They also sold a second run of 228 lambs which made $162.
The average across the lamb portion for the sale was $176 a head.
Older ewes sold to a top of $285, for a run from Dambreezi Pty Ltd, Jugiong. The same vendor sold a second run of older ewes for $218.
The Mount Buffalo Cattle Company, Yass, sold a run of older ewes for $214.
Robert Hyles, Bungendore, sold a run of 37 mixed-aged older ewes for a top of $205.
The sale was conducted by the associated selling agents of the SELX, Yass.