Spring selling of store sheep has all but come to an end for this season with consistency the overwhelming theme of this year’s results.
The ball was bounced high in the Riverina leg back in September with the Hillston and Hay Merino breeders markets setting a cracking pace, with the mid to top-end drafts all selling above $200, with the tops pulling a best of $274.
October sales at Jerilderie and Deniliquin saw highs of $263 and $238 a head respectively, which was slightly off the pace, however, it was broadly acknowledged that quality, and in particular growth, of the young maiden ewe hoggets was not to the usual expected standard given the extreme dry of summer and autumn and the opposing wet and mild conditions of winter and spring.
A feature of these early sales was the transferred interest away from the big, bold prime lamb rearing Merino dam into a more moderate, versatile stylish ewe that has the capacity not only to rear a solid (crossbred) lamb but will also fill bales now that wool prices are back in vogue.
In crossbred ewe sales early NSW markets recorded some stellar performances at Temora, Narrandera, Gnadro (on farm) and Corowa sales.
Prices in the $260- $298 a head bracket were not uncommon at the time and when $300 was bid at Wycheproof in the Elders September market the sky appeared the limit as buyers eyed the upcoming November series at Bendigo, Naracoorte and Edenhope.
But with noises within the lamb industry (forward contracts) projecting a softening of lamb slaughter prices into sub-500c/kg area the young ewe market steadied and was unable to gather its usual pace of previous years.
That said, prices established a very base to trade between $240 and $275 a head with Edenhope ($281), Bendigo ($285) and Benalla ($300) topping Victorian sales while the best at Naracoorte made to $312.
For buyers seeking the current season’s drop (2016) of crossbred ewe lambs the pace here also was one of consistency and above expectation.
While the elite tops of the drop made into $260’s (best $266 at Bendigo, Naracoorte $256) its has been tough going to purchase any lambs under the $180 a head level, with suitable late joining types mostly sold above $220.
During Victorian Merino sales young 15-drop ewe hoggets were mostly sold in the $170 to $210, with special elite lots fetching to season’s high of $244 a head at Wycheproof last Friday.
The Victorian Merino series featured sales at Swan Hill, Wycheproof and Bendigo, however for those unable to go the pace on the younger lines, sales of five year-old ewes have been more affordable but here again quality sound lots have attracted solid bidding from $145 to $165 at each event.
