The big hit to ewe prices at Jerilderie

Merino ewe vendors had returns cut in half at the Jerilderie sheep sale as a dearth of confidence continues to plague the industry.

Agents call for bids at the Jerilderie sheep sale, where the top price was $190, compared to a top of $385 last year.

A lift in mutton prices and rain could do little to boost prices at the Jerilderie sheep sale which saw some pens of renowned sheep passed in and hundreds wiped off values from last year.

It was a sobering sale for many vendors, who had hoped the good rain across many areas could lift enthusiasm for the line-up of about 10,000 Merino ewes.

And while older ewes were judged to be about $40 dearer than the limited offering at Hay, it was a highlight in an otherwise flat sale which had auctioneers working hard to sell the Merinos.

While the results were considered on par with Hay for young ewes, with many pens selling for less than $100, the scale of the drop was significant when compared to last year which was when many vendors had last sold sheep.

Last year, the top prices for young ewes at Jerilderie was $385 and the year before, it was $444.

Even 10 years ago, the top price was $222 but today’s highest price fell short of that too.

Pride of place for the first pen to be offered went to Ross Wells, from Willandra at Jerilderie, and it was hoped the stage would be set for a turnaround of fortunes.

But when this pen was passed in and auctioneers advised the vendor was wanting $200, buyers knew they were in the box seat.

Don Bull from Irroy at Conargo, NSW, and Ross Wells from Willandra, Jerilderie, NSW, share the John Wells Memorial trophy for the highest priced pen of Merino ewes at the Jerilderie sheep sale, with both vendors selling 2022-drop ewes for $190.

The next pen was offered by the Bull family’s Irroy at Conargo, NSW, with this line of 241 Merino ewes, April/May 2022-drop, Woodpark blood and August shorn ewes selling for $190 to a buyer from Boorowa NSW.

It was one of only five pens of 2022-drop which sold for more than $150 at auction, as vendors were left shaking their heads at the demise of values.

One other pen did break the $150 mark, when a private deal was made for the Willandra ewes as the sale went on, for the sale-equalling top of $190.

But showing just how hard the sale was, the seconds from Willandra made $148 while the thirds were passed in after failing to sell at $92.

After the sale, Mr Wells said the market had lost confidence and most of it was based around forecasts of a dry season.

“The thing is that we aren’t having a bad season in the south but everyone seems frightened,” Mr Wells said.

One of the regular vendors usually at the top end of the market was Sleigh Pastoral Company from Jerilderie NSW, but it was tough going for them too.

The top pen from their draft of April/May 2022-drop ewes, Willandra blood and August shorn ewes, made $154 for 400, but then the seconds made $110 for 414 and the thirds $78 for 372.

“We are getting 2006 prices and it’s pretty disappointing,” Andrew Sleigh said.

Some of the representative sales included:

Amaroo: 425 Merino ewes, June/July 2022-drop, August shorn, Caroonboon blood, $184;

The Yanko: 409 Merino ewes, May/June 2022-drop, August shorn, The Yanko blood, $102; another 408 at $92, another 197 at $60;

Corynnia: 240 Merino ewes, May/June 2022-drop, August shorn, Woodpark blood, $82; another 151, $74.

There was a rise in old ewe prices compared to Hay last month, but this was underpinned by meat buyers.

The lift in mutton prices in saleyards this week also added value to older lines of classed breeders, with Fletchers International at Dubbo, NSW, buying a few pens.

The best price for old ewes was $86 paid by an Ararat buyer for a pen of 579 April/May 2018-drop Merino ewes, August shorn and Woodpark blood sold by Irroy.

Fletchers paid up to $60 for ewes to kill.