Ballarat sheep sale: First-cross ewes sell to $430
A 17,000 strong yarding of first-cross ewes sold up to $430 at Ballarat. SALE REPORT HERE
EWES topped at $430 today at the 17,000 strong yarding at the Ballarat first-cross ewe sale.
Any doubts that the market may ease after its sustained highs were forgotten as the first pen of 17-month-old ewes sold to $425, and continued to hold over $400 for at least the first two runs of quality ewes.
“The first few runs of sheep were outstanding and almost all made $400 and over,”
Charles Stewart Colac agent Peter McConachy said. “And the job has held on and been strong right the way through.”
John and Carolyn Elder from Hexham fittingly sold the top-priced pen of the day in one of their last sales; 45 years after achieving the top-priced pen in their first ever sheep sale. The Elder’s 130 head offering of first cross Border Leister and Merino ewes achieved $430 for the 14 month-old sheep.
John and Carolyn are gradually dispersing their flock as they move into retirement.
The sale today market the first big first-cross ewe at Ballarat since January and attracted buyers and vendors from Mortlake across to Leongatha, up to Kyneton and as far west as Naracoorte, SA, as well as local producers.
The next first-cross sale for Ballarat will be held in early January and is expected to be a far larger yarding of around 40,000 sheep.
Mr McConachy said while the January first-cross sale is normally dearer, last year’s January sale was down a bit due to a slight oversupply and may have affected people’s decisions to offer in the December sale instead this year.
Carmel and Sarah Stewart from Minera offered a large line of 286 first-cross ewes split over three pens. They achieved a top of $390 for a pen of 120 ewes and their seconds returned $362 for 128 ewes.
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