Bendigo prime lamb sales: First suckers on offer

The first sucker lambs have been sold as farmers sell and snap up at the Bendigo prime sale. And for Bruce Macague – it was a good day.

Mixed farmer, Bruce Macague from Rochester is taking advantage of the feed he has available by trading some lambs.

Bruce purchased a “couple of hundred” Merino lambs at the Bendigo prime sheep and lamb sale on Monday for $141.

“They are for a quick turnover and will be fed in the paddock on a stand of irrigated clover and grazing wheat,” he said.

He said he was hoping to turn them off in the first week of September, so would only have them on-farm for four weeks, to take advantage of good forward prices available for early next month.

“I really only go to a market once a year, and opportunity buy, but the price I paid was a bit cheaper than I thought it might be.”

“I like to try to take advantage of the rising market into spring, especially this year when suckers are expected to be late.”

Lachie McAllister from McKean McGregor Bendigo and Bruce Macague from Rochester purchased Merino lambs. Picture: Zoe Phillips

Bruce’s property is 90 per cent cropping and the remaining 10 per cent is trading lambs which he runs on high density clovers and grazing crops.

This season’s winter crops are “going OK” he said, but they could do with 25mm of rain.

This year he has planted wheat, canola, barley, oaten hay, faba beans and for the first time, lentils.

According to the National Livestock Reporting Service there was a slight increase in lamb supply at Bendigo on Monday, with prices mostly $5 to $20 dearer.

FIRST SUCKERS TO $229

Some of the first new-season lambs sold at Bendigo on Monday made a top of $229 – a significant step up on prices last year.

Gwarra Pastoral from Gannawarra sold a pen of 23-24kg White Suffolk-cross suckers to the top of $229, and $215 for the second pen.

In comparison at an early August sale in 2023 some of the first suckers sold at Bendigo made $138.

Selling agent of the Gwarra suckers, Ellis Nuttall and Co director Rupert Fawcett Jr, said the majority of new-season lambs wouldn’t be ready for at least another month.

He said there were only two pens of “killable” suckers in Monday’s sale.

Ellis Nuttall and Co directorRupert Fawcett Jr with suckers sold at Bendigo sheep sale. Picture: Zoe Phillips

“We think they will be a bit later this year, just the season hasn’t been great and the cold weather, so the lambs haven’t done as well,” Mr Fawcett said.

“Lamb prices were very strong and the market was good overall.”

“Quality wasn’t as good as there are a lot of clean-up lots coming in as we get to the end of winter,” Mr Fawcett said.

Buyers at the Bendigo sheep and lamb sale, Robert Cross Tatura Meats, Matt Hobbs from JBS and Matt Layfield from Highland Meats. Picture: Zoe Phillips