Prices gain momentum at Bendigo first-cross ewe sale

The Bendigo first-cross ewe sale had multiple pens sell above $300 in a result that generally exceeded expectations.

The Cartwright family at the sale. Picture: Jen Kelly

The first-cross ewe market gained momentum at Bendigo today with prices reaching a new high of $342, as low numbers and the ongoing strength of the spring lamb market pumped some excitement into the auction.

The sale had multiple pens of 1.5 year old ewes sell above $300 per head in a result that generally exceeded expectations after mixed results and a top of $315 at the recent Corowa sale.

Ewe lambs sold to a top of $292 for the renowned Dr Collin’s young ewes. But the surprise in the lamb run was meat processor Fletchers from Dubbo buying heavy lambs against restockers as they used the market to stock up on neat crossbred lambs with size and weight.

Selling agents such as Alex Collin’s were hopeful the result was good enough to put some much needed confidence back into the specialist first-cross ewe supply chain.

“This has fully met our expectations today and its been a great reward for people who have stuck with their first-cross ewe breeding programs,’’ he said.

Many vendors received an extra $100 per head plus for their ewes this year compared to the subdued results of a year ago when this sale coincided with the spring price crash for livestock.

Putting some spark into today’s sale was the lamb market being able to maintain rates of 800c/kg plus for quality stock, and the smaller supply pool for first-cross ewes after breeders became disenchanted with the sector.

Bendigo used to be a two-day first-cross selling event, with numbers crunched back to just an advertised 12,000 grown 1.5-year-olds and 15,000 ewe lambs today.

Supply was a reason South Australian buyer Philip Smith, Hynam, travelled to Bendigo ahead of his regions main first-cross ewe sales at Naracoorte which start next week.

“First-cross ewe numbers appear to be down a bit and that probably enticed us to come over and average it out,’’ he said.

An export lamb producer, Mr Smith paid the top price of $342 for the Lourie family’s pen of 127 yearling ewes, listed as September 2023 drop, recently shorn and mulesed and Gudair vaccinated.

“This sale has been a little dearer than we thought and it has got dearer as it went one,’’ Mr Smith said.

The auction did gather pace as it went, with the highest prices set in the second row and there was instances where some vendors received more for their second lines compared to their tops.

An example of this was Tangle Pastoral from Euroa, run by Robert McCormick and father Pat. They had 1060 of their home-bred 1.5-year-old ewes in the sale, the first pen of 132 making $305, the second cut of 130 head going higher at $322, and the next pen $286. They all sold to Nutrien at Ballarat.

Buyers appeared to be targeting neat and stylish well-grown ewes rather than the heaviest 1.5-year-olds. Renowned drafts sold particularly well, led by Lynda Cartwright’s ewes which sold to $330 for her September drop yearlings, and to $328 for the slightly earlier July/August drops.

Lynda said it a decent return for the work and time taken to produce these ewes.

“I’m happy as our tops are over $100 better than a year ago, and everyone would have to be happy with the top ewes at $300 to $340 or so,’’ she said.

There was a big crowd in attendance which translated into buying depth, with the majority of 1.5-year-olds in the from $260 to $320 per head.

In the ewe lambs, after the top of $292 prices quickly slipped back to between $240 to $270 for the majority of the lead drafts, with the market than finding a floor at $200 to $240/head. Smallest ewe lambs $150 to $180/head.