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Young farmer finds good changeover opportunity with Corriedale ewes

Terry Sim, January 22, 2018

Codrington prime lamb producer Rem Crowe, left, with his agent Garry Chisholm.

YOUNG Codrington farmer Rem Crowe was happy with his ewe price changeover this year, selling his culls for $130 and buying in replacements for $122-$143.

The 24-year-old with his agent Garry Chisholm was one of the main purchasers of ewes at Elders Mortlake’s annual Draffen family Heatherlie Corriedale flock production sale near Hexham last Thursday.

The pair were losing bidder on the 216 1.5 year-old Borderdale ewes that sold for $228 to a HF Richardson and Co client, but followed up by paying $143 for the first 297 5.5-year-old October-November shorn Corriedale ewes offered. They also paid $122 for another 220 5.5 year-old ewes.

Rem sold his eight-year-old cast for age first cross ewes for an average of $130 this year after they weaned 120 percent Poll Dorset lambs that averaged him $166. The ewe were bought in-lamb for $120 in May 2016.

The young prime lamb producer has managed to avoid paying the high replacement ewe prices paid by many at sales this year and will join to the Corriedale ewes to Border Leicester rams as part of his plan to start a self-replacing flock.

“I’ve never tried pure Corriedales before, but I like their wool and black points.

“It’s a cheaper way into a self-replacing flock.”

Southern Grampians Livestock agent Blair O’Toole, left, with Stirling Draffen at the Heatherlie sale.

Other runs of 5.5 year-old Corriedale ewes sold for $92 to $120 to buyers from Ararat, Mortlake and Minjah. Southern Grampians Livestock agent Blair O’Toole paid to $130 for 1031 5.5 year-old Corriedale ewes for a Minjah client to join to White Suffolk rams. A line 327 1.5 year-old Corriedale wethers sold for $138.

Heatherlie principal Stirling Draffen said he was happy with the “market value” prices paid by the mainly repeat buyers.

“I’m pleased they didn’t make extreme prices.

“That’s the market value and they’re good sheep,” he said.

“It’s more than they made 25 years ago.

“We shot sheep for a $1, 25 years ago.”

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