News

Wagga lambs to $340 and Hay Merino ewes to $512 as records fall

Terry Sim, September 17, 2021

The $340 new season lambs sold at the Wagga saleyards yesterday.

NEW South Wales’ sheep meat industry brimmed with confidence this week as prime lambs sold for a national record of $340 at Wagga Wagga yesterday and Merino ewes made to $512 at the Hay  Merino Breeders sale today.

RH Blake and Co auctioneer Mark Logan said 54 April drop Poll Dorset cross lambs from clients Bob, Judy, Melissa and Joanne Rodham sold for the new national record price in the Wagga saleyards to JBS Melbourne, gazumping a previous record held by Bob’s brother Gordon up to last month.

“Gordon had the record four weeks ago and it got broken with some $336 lambs at Griffith last week.”

Mr Logan said yesterday’s record-priced lambs weighed an estimated 34kgs dressed, and the Rodham’s also sold another 79 lambs weighing an estimated 34kg cwt for $324, also to JBS Melbourne. The entire Rodham draft averaged about $440.

The Rodham lambs are bred by Armdale Park Poll Dorsets and out of first cross ewes from Ian Roberts, both at Marrar in New South Wales.

Mr Logan said producers had to “get a bit” for their lambs, with first cross ewes selling $13-$150 dearer than last year at up to $500 and rams are also $500 dearer.

“So they’ve got to get a bit of money for their top lambs to pay for the ewe and ram replacements.”

He said the prices have held up at 950-1000c/kg because of the lack of quality lambs on the market, with only 17,000 yarded at Wagga Wagga yesterday.

Hay Merino ewes make to $512

At the Hay merino Breeders Sale today, Sheep Central store stock specialist Murray Arnel said top- end Merino ewe prices surged beyond the $500 per head mark to $512.

The market toppers were a line of 404 Alma-blood, Yarto-bed ewes offered by the Rogers family of Mossgiel with Geoff and Di Allan, Melrose, Mathoura being the successful bidder.

The recent surge in buoyant Merino ewe prices saw a further 10 yards in the 27,000-strong yrding of 1-1.5 year-old sell above $400, with the second best price on the day – a bid of $475/head securing the Bunyan family’s Alma-blood, Daisy Plains ewes also from Mossgiel.

Mr Arnel will have a full sale report in Sheep Central on Monday.

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