TOTAL clearance was achieved at the 14th annual Tamar Valley Tasmania lamb sale.
It was possibly one of the best-presented line-ups offered at the sale for some years due to excellent late spring and early summer, according to selling agent Elders.
The competition was strong at both venues – Weymouth Farm Pastoral and Effingham at the Weymouth venue conducted by Elders, and Greenhythe Pastoral at Hillwood sale conducted by Elders and Richards Livestock – evidenced by the number of repeat buyers from across the north of Tasmania, with 25 per cent of the yarding snapped up by repeat mainland operators.
Elders auctioneer Greg Harris said for the vendors to offer their total drop of lambs in forward and sappy condition was a credit to their individual management and passion for the industry. "The top-end lambs had enough weight and were purchased for domestic trade with the balance well sort after by restockers and feedlotters," he said.
A total clearance of 8560 lambs at an average of $75.20 a head was achieved, with the top-price of $105 offered by Weymouth Farm Pastoral and selling to JBS Devonport, who purchased 520 lambs on the day.
Mr Harris said the lamb prices were up about $20/hd on average, taking into account the lambs were heavier and in a more forward condition.
Weymouth Farm Pastoral offered 2700 White Suffolk-Border Merino lambs selling to $105, av $79.23.
Effingham offered 3360 lambs to $100, av $74, comprising 2500 Poll Dorset-Romney Border Merino lambs to $100, av $74; and 860 Southdown-Border Merino lambs to $89, av $74.
Greenhythe Pastoral offered 2480 composite lambs, comprising of 335-shorn ewe lambs sold to a top of $85, av $77, and 2145 wether lambs in wool sold to $84, av $71.61.
The volume mainland buyers were Elders Bendigo, account Greg Harrington, purchasing 990 lambs, av $76.51 and Pinkerton, Palm, Hamlyn & Steen from South Australia securing 1160, av $76.47.
The major Tasmanian operators were Highbrae Holdings of Westwood with 550, av $79; Eastfield Estate Feedlot at Cressy with 300, av $79; Tasmanian Quality Meats with 320 lambs, av $85.47; Crawford Farming at Cluan with 360, av $79; and Balcarres Pastoral of Relbia with 410, av $71.21.