Murray Arnel sale reports and videos

Young Merino ewes sell to $265 at Swan Hill + VIDEOS

Murray Arnel, September 30, 2019


KEEN restocker demand for new season young lambs has delivered a strong result for the Swan Hill annual September sheep sale held Friday.

The keen restocker demand led to crossbreds sell for up to $166 and Merino types making to $144.

BR&C Agents representative, Joe O’Reilly described the result as being much better than was expected.

“The butchers absorbed the lead of the crossbred drafts for processing while stubble graziers and local feedlots were extremely keen for the remainder.

“In this area of the market prices were $20 better than expected especially on the light drafts as nothing much was sold for less than $120,” he said.

However, Mr O’Rielly conceded buying opportunities did prevail among of the sales of Merino young ewes.

“Öur top-end sales, which were sold to a best of $265, were a good example of recent prices but many of the other young ewe lines which lacked condition and growth due to the poor season, were expected to make more” he said.

The market toppers, a July shorn yard of 237 Boonoke blood young ewes, April/May 2018 drop, were offered by Larnoo of Moulamein.

These were sold to the Horsham branch of Rodwells while the next highest priced, a small yard of 80 offered by Goon Pastoral, also of Moulamein, made $252.

Other better priced lines of 2018-drop young ewes included an August shorn line of Ridgway Advance blood ewes, July/August drop that made $232 a head for Kelly Family Trust of Swan Hill while a further August shorn lot from the Kelly family, July/August drop, Keri Keri blood, made $230 as other lots of young 2018 drop ewes made from $180 to $225.

Surviving on 100mm of rain for the past 12 months, Balranald grazier, Terry Gorman sold a four year-old line of March shorn Alma blood ewes at Swan Hill for $202 after rearing 96pc of lambs.

Mr O’Reilly said the demand for the larger framed middle-aged ewes was pleasing, with a March shorn yard of four-year-olds selling at $206. This was an Alma blood lot, sold account of TA & AM Gorman “Willow Vale” Balranald, which as secured by a restocker buying and had a processor order as its losing under-bidder.

Larnoo, Moulamein sold a July shorn line of Boonoke blood, 2016 drop, three year-olds at $196 while a pen of their year younger, 2017 drop sisters made $202 as other sales of 2017, 2016 and 2015 drop ewes generally made $165 to $195. The offering of 2019-drop Merino wethers provided both shorn and unshorn lots.

Merino wether lambs sell to $143

Noorong Pastoral, Noorong was the principal seller of wether lambs offering 3000 head of Leachim-blood unshorn wethers bred on its Noorong, Fraser Downs and Widgee properties. These were sold to a top of $143 a head while its second and third draft lots made $130 to $135.

Woolmark Family Trust, “Tin Tin” Balranald was another volume seller of Merino wether lambs, clearing 900 Keri Keri blood May/June-drop wethers for up to $142. The second and third draft lots made $136 and $124 a head respectively.

Sales of shorn wether lambs were also hot property with the best sold $147 a head. August shorn and Wallaloo Park blood, these were sold by Condoulpe Pastoral of Balranald to Fletchers International, while its second draft sold to a Warracknabeal restocker for $137.

The annual September sale, which will be only one conducted at Swan Hill this spring due to a lack of numbers, was conducted by BR&C Agents, Elders and Landmark.

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