New season lambs to $140 at Cooma

There were limited pens of new season lambs on offer, while the majority of the yarding was made up of older lambs and a big selection of off-shears older ewes and wethers, in good condition considering tough season across the Monaro.

The sale was quoted by Monaro Livestock and Property Cooma director Will Dixon as “strong for the top pens but a good result for all types”.

“We have had a short spring, but we can still get some growth if we get good rain soon,” he said.

“The first run of suckers were here today, and we will get busy selling them through the new year.”

Mr Dixon said the yarding was of mixed quality, with producers taking the chance to sell older sheep off-shears for good money.

Processors were active securing most of the yarding, with only limited competition from local restockers for the few suitable pens.

New season woolly lambs ranged from $99 a head to $140, while older woolly lambs sold to $122.50.

Shorn lambs sold from $60 to $96.80.

The good selection of mutton saw older wethers, off-shears, sell to $106, with Merino ewes selling to $98 and crossbred ewes making $100.

The top price of $153 was paid by a local restocker for pen of 66 first-cross ewe lambs, Retallack-blood, sold by Ian McGufficke, Jindabyne.

In the pens of new season woolly lambs, John and Tracey Lonregan, Canberra, sold 29 for $140, with Sid and Mary Walters, Cooma, also receiving $140 for their pen of 32.

Other pens of new season lambs sold for $120 when Leon Clarke, Berridale offered 27 second-cross lambs, while Sid and Mary Walters, Cooma, also sold a second pen of 43 woolly lambs for $125.

Max and Carol Caldwell, Bungarby, sold 40 Merino wethers off-shears for $106, and Coolringdon Pastoral Co, Cooma, sold 180 five-year-old Merino wethers, Hazeldean-blood and off-shears, for $88.50.

Cooma Associated agents, Landmark, Elders, Boller and Co, and Monaro Livestock and Property, conducted the sale.