SUPPLY more than doubled from last year and there was plenty of enthusiasm from the large crowd of buyers to match at last Friday’s annual Goulburn-Crookwell crossbred ewe sale.
An impressive yarding of about 16,500 ewes were presented to an eager crowd for the region’s first major sheep sale of the new year.
That was up by more than 100 per cent from last year’s offering of just 8000.
The laneways of Goulburn saleyards were packed with buyers and onlookers from the Southern Tablelands and beyond, who watched first-cross ewes reach a top of $262 and the entire offering average $188.
While some top pens of first- cross ewes managed to make between $240 and $260, most of the better quality ewes ranged from $200 to $240, while those ewes with not as much bloom made below $200.
Ewe lambs also sold well, making a top of $168.
The market trend was cheaper and the average down by about $10 on last year, though there were more older ewes offered this year and quality was more mixed than in the past.
Duncombe and Company licensee Alan Duncombe, Crookwell, said there was plenty of confidence in the region with this most recent sale a strong indicator.
“The sale was extremely strong, considering that last year we only sold 8000 and this year we more than doubled that,” he said.
“With twice as many sheep it shows there is a strong interest from sheep producers in the Goulburn/Crookwell region.”
Topping the sale was a pen of 130 first-cross ewes, which made $262, sold by Tony McGaw, “Niela”, Laggan via Crookwell.
Close behind was a pen of 1 1/2-year-old ewes, October shorn, sold by Robert Hain, “Gunyah”, Cooma, which made $260.
Michael and Graeme Hewitt, “Wongalea”, Binda via Crookwell, sold 136 1 1/2-year-old first-cross ewes, August 2010 drop, September shorn, for $242.
George and Marlene Smith, “Fernhill”, Crookwell, sold 121 1 1/2-year-old first-cross ewes for $228.
Shannon Arnall, “Carinya”, Laggan, sold 52 first-cross ewes, August/September 2010 drop, October shorn, for $245.
Brad Cartwright, “Kempton”, Laggan, sold 65 first-cross ewes for $252.
Adare Pastoral Company, “Adare”, Bowning, sold 33 first-cross ewe lambs, June/July 2011 drop, for $144.
Buyers attended from Young, Cowra, Carcoar, Bathurst, Cooma, Braidwood, Boorowa, Taralga, Laggan, Crookwell and Goulburn.
The sale was conducted by M.D. and J.J. Anderson Stock and Station Agents and Duncombe and Company, both of Crookwell, and Elders and Landmark, both of Goulburn.
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J oint buy based on quality find
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WHEN Daniel Walsh and Chris Kilby were looking to make a joint purchase of first-cross ewes at last Friday’s annual Goulburn-Crookwell ewe sale they wanted quality but also value for money.
They found it in a pen of 251 first-cross ewes, September 2010 drop, August shorn, which they snapped up for $182.
Mr Walsh, “Allambie”, Taralga, and Mr Kilby, “Raeburn”, Breadalbane (pictured with Sarah Kilby, also of “Raeburn”, Breadalbane, and their recent purchase) both said they were pleased with the aquisition.
“This pen of ewes ticked the right boxes: they looked well grounded for their age and they were also very good value for money,” Mr Kilby said.
He believed they would perform and grow nicely.
Mr Walsh said they had planned to join their ewes to Poll Dorset rams.
The 251 ewes were sold by Corringle Pastoral Company, Rugby, and were by Retallack Border Leicester rams out of classed Merino ewes.
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