Vendors and selling agents were happy enough on the day when good quality and conditioned ewes made their money and wethers were sold at values better than expected.
Rodwells auctioneer Nick Byrne said the job (demand) was solid without being overly excitable.
”With the little bit of moisture that’s been about and the issuing of several lamb forward contracts for the December through to February period has given the job a bit of a lift and generated some confidence”.
“And at $8.00 a kilogram for crossbred lambs and 50-cents less for Merino lambs they’re not to be sneezed at” Mr Byrne said.
Bringing top dollar on the day JH & DF Newall, Marnoo sold 134 Merino young ewes at $198 a head. These were a spring-shorn line of Charinga-blood ewes, May//June 17-drop that went to Rodwells Horsham.
ST & JJ Verley, Boort was also well rewarded with a sale, at $192, for a line of 390 Concordia-blood ewes, September-shorn.
Landmark auctioneer Shan Coffey agreed describing the market as good for wethers.
“The market was underpinned by butcher competition and that provided a solid base for the sale under these trying conditions” he said.
“(Landmark) best money was $178 a head paid for a pen of 2.5 year-old ewes sold account Bernarra from St Arnaud. These were 16-drop Banavie-blood ewes, September-shorn while LJ Hogan, Culgoa sold 3.5 year-old Sims/Uardry-blood ewes, August-shorn at $150.
Mr Coffey said wether prices were very pleasing.
DJ Barry, Culgoa sold a large line of August-shorn, Collinsville-blood one year-old wethers at $151.50 while, at $150, HK Norfolk, St Arnaud sold late July-shorn, Oakbank 17-drop wethers, with both sold to graziers.
Pens of 18-drop wethers were also well supported.
Vendor, the Huggins family, Fernihurst, sold 800 unshorn Woodpark-blood lambs, with the tops sold at $110 to a butcher while the line’s second draft made $94 as other shorn and unshorn wether lambs made $66 to $90 a head.
The sole pen of crossbred ewe lambs made $143. These were May/June-drop and October-shorn.
