There was only just over 1700 head penned at this year's February first-cross ewe sale at Narrandera, almost half of last year's 3000-strong yarding.
Nutrien livestock agent, Ryan Burden said despite the small numbers, it was a very good sale with the best quality line up of sheep he had seen presented in some time.
The top price of the sale was $320/head, paid for 146 March/April 2019-drop ewes, weighing around 71 kilograms, from Hutchins Farming, Elaine, Narrandera.
Hayden Hutchins said they would normally keep their first cross ewes but had extra Merinos this year.
"I'm very happy with the result, I wasn't sure what the prices were going to be like today," Mr Hutchins said.
The Kember family, Gleneith sold 220 March/April 2019-drop first-cross ewes bred with Gleneith Super Border Rams for $300/hd.
Purchasers, Peter and Beryl Brain, Grong Grong and Roch and Catherine McGrath, Tumbarumba split the pen, taking home 110 ewes each.
Frying Pan Creek, Weeroona, Narrandera sold their top pen of 324 March/April 2019-drop first-cross ewes for $294.
The Graham family, Methul sold 200 April/May 2019-drop ewes for $288/hd.
Smaller lots sold well, the Currie Family Trust sold their pen of 93 April/May 2019-drop first cross ewes for $295/hd, while CK and KS Hamblin sold 90 for $290/hd.
PW and KM Little, Moonganna, Grong Grong, sold younger first cross ewes, July/August 2019-drop for $270/hd and light, September/October 2019-ewes from Wangamong Pastoral, Morundah sold for $185/hd.
Mr Burden said it was good to see local competition given the tight season. The sale was also run on Auctions Plus this year.
"We had three lots sell to Auctions Plus today and plenty of competition along the way so we were over the moon with that," Mr Burden said.
He said the sale reached the prices they were hoping for, with the brothers of the ewes making $260-$270/hd last week.
The sale was conducted by Narrandera Nutrien and Elders agents.
- Full report in next week's edition of The Land
