First-cross ewes sold to $455 at Benalla first-cross ewe and lamb sale on Friday, which was regarded as a strong sale "with some holes in it".
The special sale attracted a decent sized gallery who chased the top pens of vendor-bred ewes to competitive prices, but were resistant to pursue the second lines of vendor-bred ewes.
Advertisement
There were 5890 sheep yarded for the sale, which was interfaced with AuctionsPlus, including 4596 first-cross ewes and 1294 lambs.
"I think the better vendor-bred sheep made their money, while some of the bought-in ewes struggled to get there," Rodwells Benalla, livestock agent Dale Buitenhuis said.
"It was a solid sale with a few holes in it."
The sale's best presented pen was awarded Tony and Anne Mort, AL & AM Mort, Mardie, Lurg, for a pen of 198 Border Leicester/Merino-cross ewes, 1.5-years-old, 70.4 kilograms, from Riverina ewes, by Retallack Border Leicester rams for the equal top price of $455, bought by Elders, Shepparton.
The draft was split into two lots using the 'Riverina buying method', with the under bidder taking 78 head, for $444, purchased by Nutrien, Euroa.
It was a marginal increase on last year's top price sold by the Mort family, at $435, however their second draft of 82 first-cross ewes, 60.5kg, sold to $375, falling short of the 2020 equivalent sale at $399.
Local interest dominated the buying gallery, which saw isolated lots bound for Holbrook, NSW, and to Sale, Gippsland.
The sale kicked off with Jenna Burden and her dad, Ron Burden, of Burden Nominees, offering 400 Border Leicester/Merino-cross "extra large framed" ewes, 1.5-years-old, from Riverina ewes, by Retallack Border Leicester rams, which sold to $420. The draft was split across two pens, with the first 300-head, av 80.4kg, sold to Nutrien, Benalla, and the second pen of 100, av 75.3kg, bought by Rodwells, Benalla.
The Burden's were awarded the best presented pen of ewe lambs, for the lead line of 260 May/June 2021 drop first-cross ewe lambs from the family's Narrandera, NSW, property which sold sold for $306, followed by $255 for the 211 adjoining pen of their sisters, while the third cut of 124 made $260.
The lead line of B P & J Morris, Benalla, 222 May/June drop first-cross ewes, av 69.5kg, sold for $385, followed by $370 for 161 head, while the third cut of 139 made $338, for a draft av of $346.
Yaccoole Partnership, Devenish, had one of the largest drafts at 659 head of progeny by Centre Plus ewes and Ellingerrin Border Leicester rams. The top pen of 192 June/July '20 drop, described as "big stretchy ewes with plenty of depth", fetched $375, with the entire draft av of $354.
Cairnbank Pastoral Company, Glenrowan West, sold two lines of first-cross Border Leicster Merino cross, June/July drop ewes, out of Kerrin Poll Merino ewes and Retallack-blood Border Leicester rams, with the top draft selling to $375, with the 242-head av $372. Cairnbank Past also offered a draft of first-cross ewe lambs, June '21 drop, av 36.2kg, which sold to $260, while their slightly lighter paddock sisters, av 31.4kg, fetched $232.
After selling his Taminick property, Glen Phillips, said he topped-up his retirement fund with the final sale of 108 Border Leicester Merino-cross ewe lambs, out of Woodpark Merino ewes by Quality Hovell rams, which sold to $280.
Annabelle Cleeland
Annabelle Cleeland is a Stock & Land journalist. She has worked at Australian Community Media for more than a decade serving in a number of roles including editor, senior journalist and national sheep & wool writer. She runs a fine Merino wool property with her young family in North-East Victoria.
Annabelle Cleeland is a Stock & Land journalist. She has worked at Australian Community Media for more than a decade serving in a number of roles including editor, senior journalist and national sheep & wool writer. She runs a fine Merino wool property with her young family in North-East Victoria.
