The Hillston store sheep sale reached new heights on Monday with Merino ewes selling for a top price of $480 a head, a record for the sale.
Overall there were 4454 2020-drop Merino ewes offered and they sold to an average of $360. Older Merino ewes (2016 to 2019-drop) sold for an average of $286 and top of $296. While, 977 Merino wether lambs sold for a top of $160.
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Nutrien agent Geoff McDougall, Hay said they thought the sale might nudge $400 but they never expected it to reach $480.
"It was a huge surprise," Mr McDougall said.
It was a run of April/May-drop 2020, June-shorn ewes from Ballatherie Pastoral Company, Ballatherie, Hillston, who made the top price.
The first pen of 250 Ballatherie ewes, 66 kilograms live-weight average, sold for $468 sending waves of excitement through the crowd.
But, it was Ballatherie's next pen of 250, also 66kg, which blew any previous sale records out of the park, making $480 a head. Mr McDougall said the pen was purchased by an Ardlethan producer.
A run of 210 ewes, May 2020-drop, June-shorn, from Rolling Stone Partnership, Narran, Hillston, 67kg, then sold for $420 to a Forbes buyer. While, 325 ewes, May/June 2020-drop, August-shorn, from Edward Park Pastoral, Moulamein, 64kg, sold for $445.
The seconds from Ballatherie also stayed above the $400-mark, two runs of 250 ewes, 59kg, selling for $420.
Mr McDougall said Rob Loveridge, Aspley, Gunbar also cracked $400 in his first ever Hillston sale, $400 paid for his pen of 350 ewes, 54kg.
"AuctionsPlus really kicked in on the back end of the sale, it made it a strong sale throughout," Mr McDougall said.
Buyers were from throughout the Central West and Riverina, including Bathurst and Moama.
The sale was conducted by Nutrien Hay and Hillston agents.
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