NOT-station-mated Merino ewes sold to a top of $420 a head three times during the West Wyalong sheep breeders annual spring sale on Wednesday last week.
Both vendors of the top priced ewes used the annual sheep sale as an outlet for their flock dispersals and this attracted solid buyer interest.
First to hit the $420 mark were two pens of 245 14- to 15-month-old NSM mulesed ewes from Graham and Kay Tulloch, Garral. The ewe in both pens were April shorn and Wanganella-blood.
Next came a pen 265, 13- to 14-month-old, NSM, August-shorn, Woodpark-blood, mulesed Merino ewes from Moonbah Pastoral Company, Condobolin, that was also knocked down for $420.
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A second pen of 265 similar description Moonbah Merino ewes attracted a winning bid of $400.
Quade Moncrief Livestock and Property agent Paul Quade said most of the young Merino ewes represented very good buying and sold about the $350 a head mark, while the older ewes sold well above prime price to range from between $175 and $296.
Also drawing spiriting bidding up to $400 was a pen of 143 NSM Merino ewes from WJ and HJ Buttenshaw of Laurel Park Poll Merinos, West Wyalong. These ewes were 14- to 15-month, March-shorn, mulesed and Laurel Park blood.
Collinsville- and Poll Boonoke-blood Merino ewes from KB, BJ and PJ Ward, Ungarie, sold for $375. The scanned-empty, July shorn and mulesed ewes were 18 to 19 months in a pen of 105 head.
The Coprice/AgNvet sponsored best presented pen of ewes were offered by Tim Rossiter and family, Yongarra Pastoral, Ungarie. These very well grown maiden ewes were May/June 2020 drop, July shorn and Haddon Rig blood.
Rob Neal and Company, Condobolin, also had a top quality line of 200 Belswick-blood young ewes on offer that were snapped up by RB and GL Freudenstien, Grenfell, via Elders Young for $300.
Mr Quade said Elders Wagga Wagga agent Bryan Maher saw the value on the day and bought seven lines of ewes all going back to clients in the Wagga, Coolamon, Temora and Ariah Park areas.
"Tullibigeal prime lamb producer Mark Heyward knew the quality on offer of the Worland Family Trust, Tullibigeal, One Oak Poll maiden ewes, securing them for $300," Mr Quade said.
"Jack and Leah Jones, Pinegrove, West Wyalong, had their Austral Eden-blood young ewes looking a picture and repeat buyer Kevin Bruest, Betric, didn't miss them at $370.
"Hitting the $370 mark as well was Dennis and Jess Ireland, Wompoony, Tullibigeal, who also did a great job on their young ewes."
Coming out of the same area were vendors Harts Kynwoor who had some impressive young and older ewes on offer as did McClintock Farming with their maidens making $350 and the older 2017 draft realising $296.
First-time vendor at the sale was Tom Maguire, Mirrool, who got off to a great start with his very well presented large-framed young ewes selling for $330 and knocked down to Elders Griffith.
Griffith buyers also bought long-time supporters of the sale the Munro family of Rankin Springs', Poll Bonooke young ewes for $320.
Merino wethers were also keenly sought after with the top draft of Mt Mulga Pastoral Company's Laurel Park blood, September/October 2020 drop lambs realising $162, and the second's making $149. Repeat Forbes buyer Scott Reid bought both lots taking the complete line of 840 to grow out as woolcutters.
The sale was conducted by Quade Moncrieff Livestock and Property, Elders and Nutrien Ag Solutions.
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