Hay sheep sale: Young Merino ewes sell to a top of $358
Young Merino ewes have sold to a whopping top price at the Hay sheep sale.
YOUNG Merino ewes fetched a whopping $358 in a “sale of century” at Hay in the NSW western Riverina last week.
The 40,000-head market, often seen as an indicator of major spring markets at Swan Hill and Jerilderie, was rated as “red hot” with the best young ewes returning almost $100 a head more than last year’s sale toppers.
Of the 46 pens of 2018-drop Merino ewes sold, more than 70 per cent sold for more than $200 with a third selling for $250 or more. Nine pens eclipsed last year’s sale top of $262.
The $358 top price, which one agent described as “the sale of the century”, is believed to be one of the highest prices ever paid for young Merino ewes in Australia.
The 404 March-April 2018-drop ewes were sold by Greg and Helen Rogers of Yarto Station at Booligal. The ewes were Alma blood, fresh off an August shearing and weighed an average 63kg having been fed in containment areas over summer.
Yarto’s second draft of 450 ewes fetched $310, resulting in a payday of more than $284,000 for the Rogers family.
The buyer of the top-priced pen was Bill Bott from Coreen NSW, a regular purchaser of Alma-blood ewes at Hay, who found himself in a bidding tussle with fellow renowned first-cross ewe breeder Geoff Allan of Mathoura.
“I’ll be honest with you, I wasn’t expecting to pay that much,” Mr Bott said. “Next year is going to be a problem (given the dry seasonal conditions in the western Riverina and the likelihood of reduced ewe numbers), we knew that and we got caught up in a bit of a bidding war.
“We certainly intended to buy the Yartos from the time we left home. They are very, very sound in the requirements we have. We are all in the business of producing meat and the clients I have want ewes that are going to have high percentages of weaned lambs and lambs that are going to have all the carcass traits.”
Mr Bott, who will sell 1300 first-cross ewes at Corowa on October 24, said the ewes would be joined the week before Melbourne Cup.
Vendor Greg Rogers described the $358 price tag as “unbelievable”.
“When the first pen of the sale (also Alma-blood ewes from the Bunyan family of Daisy Plains at Booligal) made $295, and they were very good sheep, I thought ‘wow’ and if we could get up towards that we’d do really well. But it only takes two people that desperately want them bidding against each other to run the prices up,” Mr Rogers said.
Sale toppers for the past two years, the McKindlay family of Mooloolmoon at Moulamein, rounded out the major placings with their draft of 450 May-June drop, Goolgumbla-blood ewes, fetching $290.
Young 2018-drop Merino ewes sold down to $138 with their year-older proven breeder sisters fetching $188-$240. Older Merino ewes returned from $125 to $220.
Merino wether lambs topped at $160, selling down to $102 while a small run of Merino ewe lambs fetched $138-$176.
Buyers came from across central and northern Victoria as well as the Riverina with processors Wagstaff Meats and Fletchers International also active on older ewes and wethers.
The top money was paid by an Elders Wangaratta client for a draft of 400 ewes from Greg and Helen Rogers of Yarto Station at Booligal.
The Alma-blood ewes were March-April 2018-drop and August shorn. The seconds fetched $310.
The next best money of $295 was paid for March-April 2018-drop, Alma-blood ewes on account Daisy Plains at Booligal.
Mooloolmoon’s top draft of May-June drop, Goolgumbla-blood ewes, from Moulamein, fetched $290.
Processors were active on the older ewes and wether lambs.
Lower supplies boost lamb, mutton prices
Competition for lamb was also strong, with prices creeping up slowly instead of steep increases, with agents reporting more consistent demand from processors early this week.
Sale prices, yards adapt around heat, holidays
Bidding remained erratic over the past week, with lamb weight and quality both factors in price outcomes.