IT WAS a long haul from the Gawler Ranges, in the mid-north of South Australia via a finishing property at Lucindale but ewe lambs sold at Swan Hill’s fourth shedding sheep sale achieved better than expected prices, with the happy vendor vowing to repeat the exercise again.
Callum Somerville, manager of the 1.4 million acre Nonning Station west of Port Augusta, sold 1500 White Dorper ewe lambs - all orange tag 2010-drop, to a small but discerned field of buyers to a consignment best price of $178 a head, averaging $150.
Some of Nonning’s earlier April//May-drop ewe lambs, which were rising 13-14 months of age, were scanned in lamb to White Dorper rams while those born later in the 2010 year was sold as unjoined.
Most were second to fourth generation White Dorper-cross as a result of the South African breed, imported from Namibia being first inducted to the property large framed South Australian breeding flock in the 2000 breeding season.
Mr Somerville said Nonning which is owned by Angus McTaggart, in partnership with his parents Malcolm and Pam McTaggart, is rated for a grazing capacity of 40,000 grown sheep. Currently the property has 30,000 White Dorper breeders which this season in an excellent grazing season has turned off close to 150pc of lambs which after being mustered from water traps are trucked to Kilmory Lucindale where the lambs are sorted marked and marketed.
The convening agent Malcolm Brady BRC Agents of Swan Hill said prices for ewes on the day drifted further compared to the company’s inaugural sale in spring.
He said prices had trended away from buoyant first sale levels however all vendors were completely happy with most pleased to relinquish their surplus numbers following an outstanding breeding season across the back country.
Two pens of F4-generation White Dorper ewes, rising two years, with 6- 10 week-old WD lambs at foot meet steady inquiry making $168 to $170 for Ormiston Pastoral, Broken Hill.
Two pens F2-F3 Dorper Damara-cross ewes, similar age with 6- 10 week-old WD lambs at foot from the same station made $162- $164.
The market top price of $230 a head was gained by JM & KN Rowney of Sea Lake. They sold a pen of F3, F4, F5 White Dorper ewes, July/August 10-drop, Burraway blood, depastured to Castlebar WD rams to Geelong small-acre farmer, Brent Downey of Ceres.
Steve Ellis of Horsham sold a single yard April//May 10-drop WD young ewes, F2, F3, scanned in lamb to White Suffolk rams made $208 for while a second pen from the same vendor was returned home unsold at $173.
The buyer of his cleared pen was Landmark Timboon while the market’s volume buyers were Buckalo Station at Broken Hill and Ramps Ridge of Balranald each of whom booked 1200 and 1400 head respectfully.
Malcolm Brady said butcher acceptance of shedding sheep has spread rapidly, and vendors who have made the switch have enjoyed enormous breeding success in the past two season boosting lamb turn-off rates that have been nothing short of sensational.