A buying field dominated by southern restockers bid keenly for a large display of Merino breeders sheep at the annual Hay September sale on Friday.
Offering some 56,000 head in annoying dusty to highlight the extremely tight grazing conditions spanning western NSW, prices achieved for young 2016-drop ewe lines exceeded the expectations of some, with 20 lots sold at prices for $200 a head or better before hitting a sale high, $258 a head.
The market toppers were a line of the McKindlay family’s Mooloomoon ewes from Moulamein, Goolgumbla-blood that were August shorn.
The line of the Rogers’ family, Yarto young ewes from Booligal, Alma-blood, August-shorn made $248 while a draft of Merwin, Moulamein ewes, Goolgumbla-blood, August shorn made $234.
The strong southern inquiry was mainly fueled by inquiry from Echuca, Deniliquin, Yarrawonga, Bendigo, Swan Hill. Intermittent inquiry was also sporned from the Griffith, Barrellan, Narrandera and Forbes areas however due to season their influence was not as great as in previous years.
A part dispersal of Nyangay, Hay flock Bluebush blood was also completed as a July shorn entity. Its classed-in 2016 -drop line made to $230 while its 15-drop and 14-drop -two and three year-old made $204 and $202 respectively.
In the older ewe section lines of 2012-drop ewes were also sought aggressively by restockers. The tops of these genuine 5.5 year-old ewes made to an impressive $166 a head while a number of other lots of the same age made $110- $148.
Sales of 2017 wethers were almost entirely absorbed by restockers despite strong representation from the processing industry.
Sales of unshorn wether lines mostly made $80- $95 due to their seasonally-limited size and freshness however better grown and conditioned lots made $106 to $116.
The best priced lot was the lead pen of 2000 Toronga Bluebush-blood while Mafield, Booligal sold Alma-blood wethers at $110. Lines of 17-drop shorn wether lambs mostly made $55-$75 before a single sale of Bedarbidgal Poll Pooginook-bloods made $88 a head.
Top Prices 2016-drop Ewes
- Mooloomoon $258, $234
- Yarto $248
- Merwin $232
- Nyangay $230
- Daisy Plains $228
- Raheen $224
- Willowvale $222
- Caroonboon Stud $220
2012-drop Ewes
- Yamba $166, $148
- Tarwong $160
- Formosa $148
- $Minarto $146