Australian White ewes fetch a whopping $1015 a head

The April/May 2020 drop ewes, were carrying the Tattykeel Certified Red Tag and were listed on AuctionsPlus by Elders, Yarrawonga.

The vendor R and K Greenfields, Bundalong, has developed an Australian White flock based upon ewes of Tattykeel-bloodlines and the sale ewes were sired by Tattykeel-bred rams.

Rodney and Karen Vodusek, trading as R & K Greenfields Pty Ltd, Bungalong, said when the ewes finally sold, it made them feel "almost sick in the stomach ... because we couldn't believe it".

"My phone was running hot during the sale and it didn't stop until about an hour after the auction had stopped," Mr Vodusek.

"I didn't need to look at the action because I was busy doing some fencing and receiving text messages from all my friends and my agent telling me about the price at the same time".

Mr Vodusek said the pen of ewes attracted 65 bids from six buyers over a 90-minute period.

The lambs had a reserve of $750 and were the first ewes sold off the property, Hareeba Park, since the couple purchased it in 2018.

"I've been told by AuctionsPlus it was the Australian record and I certainly never expected that when I went to sell them," Mr Vodusek.

"For that sort of money I was a bit lost for words really, I still am, but it's so easy to look after them and barring their vaccinations and drenching, I really don't do anything to them.

"I make sure they fatten on anything and they're well looked after in my paddocks because I grew lucerne hay, rye grass so it was a bit surreal seeing that sort of money."

The vendors said the buyers would be "extremely pleased" with the presentation of the top-dollar ewes.

"Last week on AuctionsPlus there were four-year-old Australian White ewes making over the $800 mark and they were scanned in lamb," Mr Vodusek said.

"These were 13 to 15 months of age and all scanned-in-lamb with 24 twins and 16 singles in the mob so we expected a pretty decent price for them, but not like that."

The highly-sought after ewes were bought by Craig Pellow, QPL, Temora, NSW, for a client at Carinda in northern NSW who is starting an Australian White flock.

"They are outstanding ewes," Mr Pellow said.

"They are excellent shedders and weighed 72kg."

Mr Pellow also confirmed the ewes had been scanned-in-lamb to Tattykeel-bred rams and the results showed 60 percent for multiples and 40pc were carrying single lambs.

"The Red Tag guarantees the provenance of the breeding of the ewes and we are seeing a premium being paid for those ewes," he said. "Breeders of Tattykeel-blood Australian Whites are being rewarded for their commitment."

AuctionsPlus spokesperson confirmed the Australian White lines offered with Tattykeel certified red tags continue to dominate the market, attracting a remarkable amount of demand and breaking records.

Buyers are willing to pay top dollar to secure these Tattykeel lines, and in the current market, sellers are certainly being rewarded through AuctionsPlus.