Local buyers chase first-cross ewes at Ballarat’s feature sale
Vendors and buyers weigh in on Friday’s feature ewe sale at Ballarat’s CVLX. See the photos and videos.
Local buyers have dominated Ballarat’s feature sale, as prices reached $364 for 1.5-year first-cross ewes before weekend rain sets in.
The Central Victorian Livestock Exchange hosted 17,017-head of sheep on Friday, at its feature first-cross ewe sale.
Buyer Donald Rees bought 152 ewes and said he normally targeted the December sale to replace his older sheep. He has about 1000 sheep, with first-cross ewes for fat lambs.
“The season has been very dry, I’m just looking for some good, young sheep to replace my old sheep, and these fit the bill,” he said.
“(Feed) is going to be hard but we’ll see if we can get through, like anyone.”
There were 6724 Border Leicester/Merino ewes overall, 1.5-years-old, which averaged $238, topped $364, and a minimum of $95. Meanwhile, 4228 1.5-year-old ewes averaged $186, and topped $194, 410 Border Leicester/Merino lambs averaged $168 and topped $194, and 237 Border/Merino ewes averaged $135 and topped $162.
There were 623 ewe lambs which averaged $122 and topped $145, while 2808 ewes topped $196 with an average price of $149.
TB White and Sons director Leo White bought about 1200 ewes for several local clients.
“It’s a magnificent yarding of sheep with predominantly breeder sheep,” he said.
“The job has changed a lot in the past six weeks. Lambs have got a lot dearer, mutton is a lot dearer, there’s a lot of confidence going forward. While there’s a magnificent run of 1.5 year old ewes, there’s bugger all ewe lambs.
“While they’re dear (at this sale), I think going forward, I think they’ll be a lot dearer next year.”
Clearview Partners’ Rod and Jake Seers, from Glengower, sold 535 ewes, including 190 first-cross Border Leicester/Merino ewes, 1.5 years old, October-shorn, for $336, and 342 for $300.
“The market is a bit tough-going. The season is probably not helping, it’s been dry which has brought the price down a bit,” Rod said.
“I always sell in December. They were ready to go and it was time. We’re okay for feed, but I don’t want to keep them any longer because they look nice.”
Coghills Creek farmer Molly Wrigley sold 470 ewes under Wrigley Farms, including 267 first-cross Border Leicester/Merino ewes, October-shorn, for $285, and 187, Sept-Oct 2023 drop, October-shorn, for $235.
“It is up and down. We’re more than happy with where we’ve ended up,” she said.
Meanwhile, Forest Springs breeder Marty Dean, from Landsborough West, sold 176 ewes to $274.
“I feel pretty happy about it. The past couple of years I’ve sold in this sale,” he said.
“We will buy a few out of Naracoorte, keep them for 12 months and supply them back to Edenhope.”
Wimmera Downs breeder Brett Stewart, from Greens Creek, sold 1700 ewes with an average of $298 and top price of $364.
“We do Edenhope [sale], and Ballarat in January too. We have about 1000 to come in January,” he said.
“We bought some out of Naracoorte (in 2023), we’ve grown them out and then Naracoorte came back to buy them.”
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