There was only around 1800 head of good quality sheep yarded at the Narrandera first-cross ewe sale on Tuesday, but what was on offer attracted record prices for the sale, with two pens selling for $402.
Numbers were up slightly on last year's 1700 head yarding, while the top price rose $82, having topped out at $320 at the 2020 autumn sale.
Nutrien Narrandera agent Ryan Burden said the numbers were a sign of the times, with supply levels down and good quality ewes in high demand.
"The middle draft of the sheep...they were making around $380, which is very solid for ewes which will go home and join well," Mr said.
"The second drafts of ewes were making $320 to $340, a couple of pens were in the $350 range, then we got onto some younger ewes which were around the bottom end of the sale, they were about $300."
Mr Burden said despite rainfalls of 50 to 150 millimetres in recent days, the sheep presented well.
The first of the $402 pens was 215 Border Leicester cross Merino ewes, March/April 2020-drop, November shorn with Mount Beckom blood from Paul and Kathy Little, Moonganna, Landervale.
Mr Little said it was about the best winter and spring season they had seen and the tops of the ewes he presented tipped the scales at 71 kilograms after being on lucerne and more recently barley stubble. The Littles also sold another pen of 61, 58kg, for $358 later in the sale.
The second pen on offer also reached the top price of $402, an AuctionsPlus buyer snapping up a run of 190 Border Leicester cross Merino ewes, March/April 2020-drop, 71kg, October shorn by Gleneith Super Border rams and out Hay district-bred ewes from long-time vendors, the Kember family of Gleneith, Ganmain. The Kembers sold a second pen of 115, 67kg for $380.
Wes Kember said the results topped off a great selling season for them, with ewes from the same drop making $428 at Yass earlier in the year, while their brothers sold for up to $262.
Col Durnan of Frying Pan Creek, Weeroona, Narrandera sold two pens of 203 Border Leicester cross Merino ewes, March/April 2020-drop, October shorn with Cadell blood for $382 and $376.
The tops of the drop were sold at the Narrandera spring sale for $320.
Most sheep headed east of Narrandera, with buyers from Crookwell and Stockinbingal active on AuctionsPlus, while Rodwells Wagga Wagga livestock agent Anthony Cummins bought 640 odd head of the yarding for his clients from Pleasant Hills, Yerong Creek, Harden and Gregadoo.
The sale was conducted by Narrandera Nutrien and Elders agents.
