AN exciting new chapter in the South East livestock industry - the opening last Thursday of the new Spence Dix & Co saleyards at Keith - got away to a great start with young ewes selling under keen demand to $186.
Sheep producers supported the sale in the best possible way, with the yards filled to capacity.
The company was able to secure the land on which the yards stand on a long-term lease from Ray and Eileen Clark, Bergen Park, on the outskirts of the town.
"It looks as if further expansion of the yards might be a consideration down the track," Johnno Spence said.
"We were delighted with the success of the first sale, especially with the strong, widespread demand."
Rodney Dix said the better-quality ewes sold fully firm on recent sales and plainer types were a little dearer.
Top-price honours went to GG Lines & Sons of Gum Hill fame with a pen of 63 big plain-body ewes at $186, knocked down to Spence Dix & Co Tintinara.
A line of 296 Greenfields blood ewes from Artimore & Partners sold at $183 to Bergen Park, which also paid $162 for 299 Lines Gum Hill blood ewes from the Roberts family, Matinga Holdings, Karoonda, as part of a flock dispersal.
Monpure Pty Ltd sold its 129 young Southrose blood ewes at $156, while JP&ML Tiller received $161 on another line, the buyer being Thomas, DeGaris & Clarkson, Kingston, which operated strongly throughout the sale.
J&J Thring, Blue Hills, Telopea Downs, sold 203 of its young ewes at $152 to Pinkerton Palm Hamlyn & Steen, and the remaining 202 at $142 to Elders Rainbow, Vic, also a major buyer.
JW&VL Higgs sold 158 Baderloo blood ewes at $158 to TDC Kingston, and a pen of 112 offered by the Lines Family Partnership changed hands at $142 to Southern Australian Livestock, Keith. The same buyer secured 113 2.5-year-old ewes at $154 from Southrose Partnership.
Top price for 2.5yo ewes was $180 paid by Spence Dix & Co Keith on 280 included in the Matinga dispersal.
Booderoo Partners received $158 on 2.5yo ewes, the pen of 172 Canowie blood going to PPH&S Naracoorte.
Southrose Partnership also sold 3.5yo ewes at $138, with Vandeleur Rural Holdings receiving $132 on 105 of Rice's Creek blood.
* Full report in Stock Journal, October 17 issue, 2013.
