EWE buyers choking on dust were undeterred to pay up to $276 for young Merino ewes at the Deniliquin ewe sale today.

Sheep Central store stock specialist Murray Arnel said agents sold about 18,000 sheep in very dusty conditions, “but there was no choking on prices.”

He said surprisingly enough many lines were bought by local buyers through agents Rodwells, Landmark and Elders. Buyers also came from Finley and Echuca, with some interest from Yarrawonga and Bendigo, but not the level of expected enquiry from northern Victoria.

The 2016 and 2017 drop Merino ewes generally sold from $180-$250 and up to a top price of $276 for 354 2017 drop September shorn Goolgumbla blood ‘Mooloomoon’ ewes from Moulamein to Bunnaloo buyer Gary Holmfield.

Mr Arnel said the 2018 drop Merino ewes in the sale sold to $252 twice and generally from $160-$244.

He said a stand-out sale was a line of 2014 drop ‘Mooloomoon’ ewes for $248 to a Rodwells client, with the same shearing as their younger sale-topping sisters.

Merino lambs sell for $100-plus

It was a case of spot-the-agent at the Deniliquin sheep sale today. Image – Murray Arnel.

Mr Arnel said virtually none of the Merino wether lambs offered over 22-23kg liveweight sold for less than $100, apart from one very light line.

“So the market generally speaking was at about $4 a kilogram or better live for wether lambs.”

The wether lambs generally made from $104-$132.

Processors were very active in the aged ewe pens, led by Fletcher International Exports from Dubbo.

“The processors were strong bidders, claiming a number of pens.”

Mr Arnel said the best of the May-July drop White Suffolk cross fattening type lambs made from $150-$165, with the seconds making $130-$150, “with not many sold under $125.”

Mr Arnel will publish a full report with photos and agent commentary in Sheep Central on Monday.