IT might be a tough season in the Mallee, but first-cross ewe lambs from the region shone at Naracoorte on Thursday.
The top four price pens all came from the Mallee.
Topping the sale were father and son Leith and Anthony Gregurke, LR Gregurke & Parners, Parrakie, with 184 March/April-drops that made $320, selling to JM Ellis & Co, Hamilton, Vic. The ewe lambs were Lowan Hill/Dalveen-blood.
Two vendors made the joint second-highest price of the sale at $312.
Ian Farley, Marmon Hill, sold 153 April/May-drop, Inverbrackie-blds at $312 to Elders Millicent.
Pocock Pastoral, sold 103 April/May-drops – Coolawang/Lines Gum Hill-bld – for $312 to Landmark Naracoorte.
The next highest price went to Altus Pastoral, Lameroo, at $308. But, it was the vendor’s seconds – a line of 151 – that made this price, with their first pen of 150 Belmont/Gunallo/Ridgway-blds making $303.
The blue ribbon was judged by Alan Schinckel, ex-Leenala, Naracoorte, and it went to the Longbottom family, Farmers Leap, Padthaway.
The pen of 76 Paxton-blds sold for $300 to Green Triangle Livestock’s Garth Manser, who also bought their seconds – 221 also at $300.
JJA&RLV Boddington, Binnum, sold 103 Coolawang-blds at $302.
Southern Australian Livestock Naracoorte agent Mat MacDonald said the sale was stronger than expected all the way through.
“The better sheep definitely sold at a premium, but even ewes that were borderline joinable/not joinable still made $200 to $220,” he said.
Elders Naracoorte branch manager Tom Dennis said the sale had a great run of lambs and sold accordingly.
“The sale was supported by annual buyers who come back every year,” he said.
“The top end was very strong and it was very solid right through the middle.”
