Vendors and agents went home pleased after a strong day of selling at last Friday's annual Temora first-cross ewe sale.
A highlight was the best of the one-year-old ewes topping at $278 a head.
Landmark Harcourts selling agent James Croker, Wagga Wagga, said the sale received a large crowd with terrific local support.
He said most of the ewes offered at the sale ended up staying within a 150 kilometre radius of Temora.
“It was a very strong sale, all vendors went home very pleased considering the season we have all had,” Mr Croker said.
“The quality was outstanding, and that was reflected in the prices we saw on the day.”
The majority of the good quality, joinable one-year-old ewes made between $240 and $265 a head.
Across the board the sale averaged close to $10 a head more than the same sale last year, showing that buyers were keen to secure top quality breeders.
However, even though the average was up, the top price was below the same sale last year. Last year the young ewes topped the sale at $292 a head in a draft of 300 head.
The majority of the yarding this year also consisted of one-year-old, May- to July-drop ewes. The top price on the day was for a run of 200 July-shorn ewes from the Golder family, Temora. Mark Flagg, Barellan, picked the top quality ewes up for $278 a head.
Mr Flagg also bought a run of 200 July-shorn ewes for $274 from the long time Border Leicester breeders, the Harper family, Cadell Border Leicester stud, Ariah Park
K.F. and P.M. Odwyer, Ariah Park, sold 194 July-shorn ewes for a healthy $258 a head to Rodwells Wagga Wagga on account of Allen.
G.J. and A.L. Graham, Methul, sold 206 July-shorn ewes for $256 to the Ferguson family, Grong Grong.
Clemson Partners, Burcher, sold 370 February-shorn ewes for $256 to the Kelleher family, Barellan. These ewes were by Wattle Farm Border Leicester rams from Laurel Park-blood Merino ewes.
With the decision made to close the Temora saleyards effective immediately after the sale, the high prices on the day were a fitting end for the historic site. The sale was consucted by Riverina Livestock Agents, Elders and Landmark.
Hillston Merino ewes to $230 top
The opening sale of a series of Riverina breeder sales got underway on Monday last week, as the Hillston store sheep sale took place with 34 lots going under the hammer on AuctionsPlus.
In total, 9260 head were yarded, with ewes making up the bulk of the offering. The 2016-drop Merino young ewes sold from $200 to $230, while second-run drafts made $160 to $200.
A run of 320, 50kg to 67kg, 15- to 16-month-old unjoined Merino ewes from Robert and Alison Glenn, “Edward Park”, Moulamein, sold for $220 a head.
A run of 500, scanned empty Merino ewes, 16 to 17 months, 46kg to 66kg, made $222 a head, from Ballatherie Pastoral Company, "Ballatherie," Hillston.