Currently holding the record for price paid for breeding ewes, Brian McKelvie said it was unbelievable when 26 maiden Australian White ewes scanned in lamb (SIL) for twins sold on AuctionsPlus for $1210 a head last Tuesday.
During the same online sale, a draft of 30 single bearing Australian White ewes sold for $1010/hd also when offered by Mr McKelvie, who is in partnership with wife Helen and son Damien on the Marrar district property Misty Hills.
The Marrar district has a long reputation for producing prime lamb in numbers and quality.
"I thought they might make a good price because of the prices paid at recent sales for Aussie White ewes," Mr McKelvie said. "But this was unbelievable!"
Mr McKelvie explained the sale came about due to a remark made when the 150 maiden ewes were being scanned.
"They had scanned very well when preg-tested so we thought we might give it a go on AuctionsPlus," he said. "But the record might be short lived because the next lot listed on AuctionsPlus look similar to ours and any case, records are made to be broken!"
The ewes were Red Tagged Tattykeel certified and Mr McKelvie said he was one of the original supporters of the breed and they now have 2500 Australian White ewes on Misty Hills.
"Their low maintenance fits in with our big cropping program," he said.
That sheep flock complements a mixed winter cereal cropping operation of wheat, barley and canola, along with Lucerne-based pasture in rotation.
This year they have 400ha of canola and Mr McKelvie further explained with their 60:40 cropping/sheep ratio they don't see any reason for change, even accounting for the high commodity prices which are currently available.
The program is working well for them and along with their traditional cropping rotation, are also planting an annual fodder crop of vetch, radish, turnip, ryecorn and brassica which allows the pasture paddocks to be spelled during the winter months.
"We sow in March and are grazing it by the end of April until October," Mr McKelvie said.
"It has increased our capacity to run more sheep and we get really good weight gains like 500gms/day during winter."
The lambs are sold over-the-hooks as Mr McKelvie explained ... "they yield better than they look."
"We have been getting carcass yields of 50-53pc and we are really proud of what we have been producing," he said.
"The marbling is wonderful and that is one of the Aussie White traits."
When considering the current high prices paid for agricultural commodities and land, Mr McKelvie was certain Australian agriculture is right into a 'super cycle'.
"We are definitely in for a great time," he said. "I have never seen the crop and stock prices line up like this with last year and this year's seasons it is an amazing time for farmers.
'No matter what grain you are growing the prices are terrific and sheep prices are on a high."
Mr McKelvie does account for the current demand for agricultural commodities to the drought in north and south America which is impacting cropping production, particularly canola.
"But low sheep numbers in Australia and the lift in demand worldwide for red meat must have some influence on the prices being paid for our lambs," he said.
Mr McKelvie pointed to the number of new sheep breeds being developed, all with the aim of increasing productivity to meet the demand.
"In the short term we are really confident with the outlook for sheep," he said.
"Around here it will be hard to replace sheep numbers because farmers have let their fences and infrastructure go so they can plant more crops."
Have you signed up to The Land's free daily newsletter? Register below to make sure you are up to date with everything that's important to NSW agriculture.