Records tumbled last Friday when the annual offering of first-cross ewes went under the hammer at Barellan.
There was a one hundred percent clearance of 5072 ewes, with 3499 ewe lambs sold for $263.46 average while 1573 older ewes and scanned in lamb sold for $271.49.
Top price at $376 was paid for 95 March/April ewes 2015/16 drop, by Mt Beckom rams out of Laurel Park-blood ewes and scanned in-lamb to White Suffolks and June-shorn sold account K. W and D. M Studholme, “Kurrajong Park”, Weethalle to a Leeton producer.
Top price for ewe lambs was $314 paid for 325 March/April 2017 drop NSM and October-shorn, by Mt Beckom rams out of Ballatherie Station ewes account McDonald Farming, “Glenara”, Barellan.
Judged by Graeme Golder, Kegra Border Leicesters, Temora, Tony and Matt Flagg, “Townswell Park”, Moombooldool, were awarded the sash for best presented pen sponsored by Ian Tonacia, Mt Beckom Border Leicesters, Ardlethan; their pen of 183 March 2017 drop ewes, NSM and October-shorn by Mt Beckom rams out of Riverina-bred Merino ewes sold for $310.
B. J and M.P Sullivan, “Sunnyside”, Kamarah, sold 191 March 2017 drop and October-shorn ewes by Mt Beckom rams out of Pooginook-blood Merino ewes for $302 to Crookwell producer.
Other excellent sales recorded included 203 March 2017 drop, November-shorn and sired by Mt Beckom rams out of western-bred Merino ewes sold account Aitken and Meehan Farming, “Afton”, Beckom for $298 to Yarrawonga producer; while 232 March 2017 drop, October-shorn and sired by Gleneith Super Borders out of western bred Merino ewes sold $280 on account D. G and D. A McDermott, “Erinvale”, Barellan to Yerong Creek producer.
There was an excellent offering of Merino ewes penned by the Morris family, “Rickaveera”, Ardlethan and they received top of $304 for 199 March/April 2014 drop, June-shorn and scanned in-lamb to Mt Beckom Poll Dorsets when bought by Leeton producer.
A second pen of Merino 199 ewes and same description offered by the Morris family sold for $292 when purchased by Wagga-based producer while their third pen of 280 Willandra-blood Merino ewes, June/July 2014 drop and June-shorn, scanned in-lamb to Mt Beckom Poll Dorset rams were bought by Wagga-based producer for $282.
Buyers attended from Crookwell, Cootamundra, Henty, Culcairn, Albury, Yarrawonga, Denilquin and local areas.
The sale was interfaced with AuctionsPlus and was conducted by Mark Flagg Livestock and Property and Findlays Barellan with auctioneers Anthony Cummins and Justin Buchanan taking the bids.