The rare opportunity to “eyeball” large lines of breeder’s sheep, not far from home, will be available at two venues in Victoria next week.
Around 13,000 to 15,000 sheep in total will be offered at sales in Bendigo on Monday (July 16) and at Wycheproof on Friday (July 20).
The sales occur at a time when sheep sales have been cancelled in New South Wales and South Australia due to lack of numbers.
Starting at the Bendigo Sheep and Lamb prime sale on Monday will be the offering of 1000 Merino wether lambs and 240 Merino ewes selling account the breeders W.M. and E.A. Holcombe, Toobeah, Queensland.
It is the second year that the Holcombe sheep have been trucked 1300 kilometres from near Goondiwindi in Queensland, to be sold at the Bendigo market.
Elders agent Jonathan Sutherland, said the Holcombe’s 2017 drop wether lambs were ripe for restocker, fatteners or for slaughter.
He said the wethers, around 35 kilograms, were well bred and from big framed and straight bodied sheep.
The consignment comprised 600 September and 400 June shorn lambs by Leahcim rams.
Mr Sutherland said it made sense to bring the sheep to a market where there were more buyers and nearer to where the processors were based.
Breeder Billy Holcombe said the sheep were out of their Leahcim blood ewe flock of around 4000 ewes.
He said he hoped that the wethers went to restockers to finish.
He had bought and sold sheep in Bendigo on other occasions and felt the centre offered access to a larger buying pool.
The Holcombes have been on Leahcim rams for 10 years “and the ewes are more fertile, bigger carcases and cut lots of 19 micron wool”, he said.
At Wycheproof on Friday, Elders will yard more than 12,000 Merino and First Cross sheep.
Kevin Thompson, Elders Wycheproof, said the sale had been brought a week forward to enable the scanned in lamb ewes to be moved with a “bit more comfort”.
He said most of the sheep would not normally be sold, but producers were taking the opportunity to take some sheep out of their system..
“It’s not a panic sale but a chance to lighten numbers,” he said.
“This is a quality yarding and will suit the discerning sheep producer. It’s a great opportunity to buy real quality sheep,” he said.
The sheep would present in forward store condition and “will stand inspection”, Mr Thompson said.
Feature lines include five or six lots of ewes and lambs and an outstanding run of scanned-in-lamb Merino and First Cross ewes.
There would also be a penning of 10-12 lines of good quality Merino wethers, he said.
