MERINO and first-cross ewe values kept firm in the large yarding of some 15,000 head at the 70th Annual Dunedoo Breeders’ Sheep Sale last Thursday.
Strong buying strength came from southern and tablelands buyers with mid-west and local support competing well setting values strong with Merino ewes topping at $227 and first-cross ewes to $250.
Selling agent Angus Stuart, Milling Stuart, Dunedoo, said Wagga Wagga and Bathurst buyers were very strong with Forbes district restockers buying many as did local restockers.
“Ewe values stood up very well throughout the sale and the lamb job has been strong all the way through for the past 12 to 18 months, so there’s been quite a bit of interest in buying first-cross ewes to get back into second-cross lamb production,” he said.
Keeping in top-money circles were Kevin and Ann Hookway, “Byalla Downs”, Leadville, who sold the $227 top-priced Merino ewes to Narromine first-cross producers Tom Woods and family of ”Lockwood”, who were looking for replacement Merino mothers.
The ewes were Egelabra blood 3½ to 4½ years, December shorn scanned in-lamb to commence in March with Mr Woods saying he was attracted to the quality of the ewes and that they were in-lamb to Border Leicester rams.
The Hookways topped the first-cross section last year at $246 while this year sold their 140 at $222 a head.
Derek and Robyn Rhodes, “Hillview”, Dunedoo, topped the first-cross section at $250 when selling 275 September/October 2016 drop, December shorn ewes with mothers being of Allendale blood. These ewes were depastured with Ashbank Poll Dorset rams.
Second top first-cross money of $230 went to Matthew and Fleur Guan, “Bonniedoon”, Dunedoo, for their 166 April/May 2017 drop December shorn draft.
Eugene and Shirley Bennetts, “Ekubung”, Merrygoen, strong supporters of this fixture, sold the $212 second-top Merino pen of 140 1½ year SRS/traditional blood April shorn.
Two pens of first-cross ewes sold at $212 a head with Alison Kensit, “Redbank Park”, Dunedoo, gaining that price with her first lone venture in first-cross with July/August ‘17 drop, October shorn ewes and the Inder family’s Wattlegrove Partnership, Dunedoo, for 246 July/August ‘17 drop December shorns.
Among the Merino wether yarding of close to 1500 head, the top pen at $94 a head were 244 Nerstane blood of 1½ years, August shorn from Edenmore Partnership, Tambar Springs.
Second-top at $92 were 592 Allendale blood July/August ‘17 from Springvale Pastoral Company, Coolah.