Why store sheep vendors are feeling more confident

About 20,000 first-cross ewes will go under the hammer at Ballarat this week where producers are “optimistic” improved prices will continue.

Rain came at a first-class time for sheep vendors the Seers, who have their annual draft for sale this week at Ballarat.

Rod, wife Jodie and son Jake of Clear View Partners at Glengower have 450 first-cross ewes booked in to sell in an annual draft for the December fixture.

Rod said he was “a lot more optimistic” after the lift in both lamb and mutton prices during the past month.

“Prices have improved a lot over the past few weeks and it’s hard to understand why as there are even more stock on the market,” Rod said.

He’s glad, though, and hoping it will flow on to improved rates at Ballarat.

Clear View Partners will offer 1½-year-old ewes, which are April-May 2022-drop, and shorn in October by Rod and Jake.

Rod Seers, of Clear View Partners at Glengower, is selling sheep at Ballarat later in the week. Picture: Zoe Phillips

He said he estimated they were 70-80kg and ready for buyers to join as soon as they got home.

“We don’t like to sell them as lambs, and prefer to sell at this age as they even up and you barely need to draft them to get a nice line,” Rod said.

Two years ago, the Clear View Partners ewes made $450, and last year $330.

Rod has no expectations of getting close to these rates but thinks prices at Ballarat will be “reasonably good”.

“I would think and hope our ewes will make somewhere from $200 to $250 but can’t see them making a lot more,” he said.

“But certainly I am a lot more optimistic than I was a month ago.”

About 20,000 first-cross ewes will sold at this week’s sale at Ballarat, a mix of 1½-year-olds, ewe lambs and some older ewes.