Merino ewes made to $140 at today’s 7th annual John Wells Memorial breeders sale at Jerilderie, NSW.
A massive crowd turned out for the sale – deemed by Elders’ Ron Rutledge as the biggest ever seen at Jerilderie.
Ross Wells, Willandra, Jerilderie, NSW, topped the market for 08-drop ewes with a line of May-shorn, Willandra-blood ewes sold to McKeean McGregor, Bendigo, to be split between two clients.
The top price for '08-drop ewes also earnt him the John Wells Memorial Trophy – the first time in the sale’s seven years he’s won the trophy named after his late son.
Andrew Sleigh, Sleigh Pastoral, just missed out on the top money, selling a line of Willandra-blood, Bowen and Kooringal bred, August-shorn ewes for $137 to Rodwells, Wagga Wagga, NSW, for clients, the Webb family, Yerong Creek.
Stock & Land market analyst Murray Arnel said the first run of better, “roomier” ewes generally made $100-$125 – about $8-$10 dearer than the same types at the Hay sale a fortnight ago.
Secondary lines generally made $80-$100, about on par with the Hay sale.
Best money of the day was obtained for 2007-drop ewes, Collinsville-blood and January-shorn, offered on account Rickaverra, that sold for $140 to Elders Kyneton on account of Sir Rupert Clarke, Bolinda Vale, Clarkesfield.
The balance of the older ewes – '04-'06 drop - generally made $69-$90.
Merino wether lambs topped at $69.50, for a draft of '09-drop wethers unshorn, offered by The Yanko, with Sleigh Pastoral close behind with a pen sold for $68.
Volume buyers of wether lambs included Ron and Tim Hawkins, Minimay, operating through Elders Naracoorte, who bought 2850 wether lambs for $59-$69.
*Full report, Stock & Land, October 8.
