Kyneton Border Leicester/Merino first-cross ewe sale prices ease

Agents yarded 5000 sheep for the annual first-cross Border Leicester/Merino-cross ewe sale where ewe lambs sold to $266, and 1.5-year-old ewes sold to $300.

Elders Kyneton livestock manager Dean Coxon said wet conditions across central Victoria made it impossible for some livestock to be ready for the sale.

"Our numbers were back a little bit due to a tough season resulting in not as many sheep coming up," he said.

"The wet weather also meant not every sheep couldn't be shorn for the sale, and that was also a result of a shearer shortage."

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Sheep lacked the bloom they featured compared to last year's sale, Mr Coxon said, as most ewes sold from $240-$300.

"When we got onto the ewe lambs aged six months, we saw any of the top drafts of any of the joinable ewe lambs made anywhere from $240 to $266," he said.

"The next run of lambs suitable for a March joining made from $180 to $230, and then the turnout ewe lambs to grow out into 1.5 year olds made from $130 to $170."

He said lamb prices were down by as much as $100 compared to the same sale last year.

"We saw mostly Ballarat, Bendigo and local buyers buy all of the sheep," Mr Coxon said.

AP & KA Barri, Glenhope, topped the ewe lamb section of the sale when 132 lambs sold for $266.

The Barri family also sold 68 ewe lambs for $245.

KG & R Kelly, Myrtle Creek, won the Geoff Keech Memorial Trophy pen of 112 ewe lambs which sold for $260.

The Kelly family also sold 107 ewe lambs for $238, 90 ewe lambs for $214, and 99 ewe lambs for $210.

Stockrange, Glenhope, sold 350 ewes including 142 1.5-year-old ewes for $258, 112 ewes for $264, and 90 ewes for $240.

BP Kelly, Pyalong, sold 70 1.5-year-old ewes for $252, 101 ewes for $250, and 12 ewes for $160.

Nutrien Kyneton livestock manager John Robson said prices for well-bred sheep were still buoyant, depending on quality and condition.

"Our opening pen of sheep were 65-kilogram ewes and made $300 and bought by a local breeder at Kyneton," He said.

"I thought the top end was back a bit on the 1.5-year-old ewes, but when we got onto the lighter end, I thought it was dearer compared to other recent ewe sales."

"We have a lot of people who in our district join late so we don't necessarily need fat, grown ewes, we need well-grown ewes that don't have to be fat because they might not be joined for two or three months."

The top-priced lot was sold by S & J Saunders, Oasis Olives, Kiala, who consigned 224 first-cross 1.5-year-old ewes for $300.

R & P Paget, Tabilk, sold 197 first-cross 1.5-year-old ewes for $280.

J & J McCahon, Moliagul, sold 126 first-cross 1.5-year-old ewes for $250.

DNB Partners, Yea, sold 125 first-cross ewe lambs, six months, for $135.