THE state’s newest saleyards at Crystal Brook will host its inaugural market on Wednesday, October 4, at 2pm.
The new selling facility, developed by the Combined Independent Agents Association, is expected to be full to capacity with 10,000-head of sheep and lambs.
Proceeds from the first pen auctioned will go to CIAA parent body Ruralco’s partner charity, Lifeline.
CIAA director Wayne Hall said it was an exciting time for the state’s livestock industry.
“It’s all about giving livestock producers options, providing another outlet to buy and sell their sheep in SA,” he said.
“As CIAA has grown, our agents and their clients have been screaming out for this facility for a number of years.
“It’s a facility that’s going to be there for a long time and has the capability of expanding if we need to extend the capacity beyond 10,000 sheep and lambs.”
The development of the new saleyard has been partly supported through a $115,000 state government Upper Spencer Gulf and Outback Futures Program grant, and Regional Development Minister Geoff Brock will officially open the new sale facility.
The saleyards have been built two kilometres north west of Crystal Brook on land leased from feedlot operators Andrew and Nick Greig, Fairview Feedlot, who have also donated the first pen of sheep to be auctioned at the facility, with proceeds to the Lifeline charity.
Sheep and lambs are already registered for the sale from as far as Broken Hill, NSW, Ceduna, Streaky Bay and Murray Bridge as well as throughout the local region.
“We’ve had plenty of enquiry from interstate as well as across SA and there’s interest in coming to buy from all parts of the state as well as Victoria and New South Wales,” Mr Hall said.
The CIAA group has more than 50 agents linked to the business throughout SA and Broken Hill, and expects to hold six to eight lamb and sheep sales each year – potentially more on demand - at the Crystal Brook sale yard.