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Young Merino ewes sell to $171, wether lambs to $82 at Yelta

Terry Sim, October 10, 2014

Young Merino ewes sold to $171 at Elders’ Merino sheep and lamb sale on Wednesday.

Elders Mildura livestock manager Kelvin Fitzgerald said prices were generally $10-$15 higher than expectations and driven by the strong lamb market.

He said the top line of 489 July-August 2013-drop August-shorn Farawah Hill blood Merino ewes from AJ and PA McBride P/L ‘Teetulpa’ sold for $171 to Prill Park Pastoral. A second line of 243 of the McBride ewes made $128.

Other first run young 2013-drop Merino ewes of similar shearing sold for $124-$165, with the second and third runs generally making $88-$138.

Unshorn 2014-drop Merino ewe lambs sold to $71 for the top run of unshorn June-July drop Kelvale blood ewes from Chowilla Props, with their second and thirds runs making $69 and $61.

Older ewes sold to $135 for 275 2010-drop September shorn Collinsville blood ewes from RA Harris, Melton Grove. The Mooleulooloo Pastoral Company’s top line of 2008 and 2009-drop August-September shorn North Ashrose blood ewes sold for $91 and the seconds made $79.

Wether lambs sell to $82, 2013 drops to $88

Wether lambs sold to a top price $82 the Manna Hill Pastoral Services first draft of May-June 2014-drop woolly lambs, with their seconds making $63. The top line went to Thomas Foods International and had an estimated carcase weight of 17 kilograms.

Other first run 2014-drop Merino wether lambs made $69-$79. Small and lighter lines sold for $30-$64. Mr Fitzgerald said many of these went back to the paddock or to feedlots to be grown out for January lamb contracts. District croppers were also looking to buy lambs to go onto stubbles or failing crops.

‘Redan’ owners JB and MZ Eglinton sold 300 August-September 2013-drop and august shorn Collinsville blood wethers for $88.

Ewe rates underpinned by prime lamb prices

Mr Fitzgerald said the sale of the 24,000-plus yarding was very strong from start to finish and the sheep presented very well.

“Good quality sheep are hard to find – a lot of the sale we’ve been going to the top sheep have been good, but they tail away.

“These sheep were good from start to finish.”

Mr Fitzgerald said rates were underpinned by the good lamb market and rates for cast-for-age ewes.

“The turnover is not too bad.”

Buyers came from local districts, Keith, Kaniva, Swan Hill, Ouyen and Bendigo.

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