WITH harvest underway in some areas, a small crowd of cautious buyers kept prices in check at the Jamestown market on Thursday, with young ewes reaching a top of $168.
Subscribe now for unlimited access to all our agricultural news
across the nation
or signup to continue reading
Despite the quality of the 20,000-head yarding, bidding was hesitant on most lines of breeding ewes, with agents quoting best 2014-drop ewes as fully firm while secondary types were $15-$20 cheaper and breeding ewes $8-$10 cheaper.
Landmark Jamestown's Don Cullen said the main feature was the quality of wether lambs, which were well-grown and in forward to prime condition, which reflected the feed quality through winter and early spring.
"Under the circumstances it was a reasonable sale, given the way the season is going, and with harvest started in many areas this affected crowd numbers," he said.
Elders Jamestown's Jack Coleman said the 2015-drop wether lamb portion of the sale was strong with prices for the best lines fully firm, while secondary types were $5-$8 dearer.
A line of quality 380 April/May 2015-drop, August-shorn lambs from Waddikee farmers TG&AM Woolford, as part of their complete flock dispersal, reached a top of $91. These lambs were bought by the trade.
A draft of 320 September-shorn, Lines Gum Hill-blood wether lambs from CS&AM Simpson, Belalie North, sold for $89 while local Jamestown farmers GK&JM Sparks sold 149 August-shorn, Baderloo-blood lambs for $86.
Other wethers to sell well at $85 included a line of 700 September-shorn lambs from BP&JM Thomas, Peterborough, and 330 Bradfield-blood lambs offered by Jacka Partners, Mannanarie.
AC Jacka & Sons, Jamestown, sold 380 October-shorn lambs for $84, Bruhn Bros, Riverton, sold 120 lambs at $77 and Georgetown farmers DE&LNE Hansen sold a line of 300 October-shorn crossbred lambs to $96.
Older wethers sold to strong processor competition, with Elders quoting prices firm to $5 dearer, ranging from $85-$96 on the better quality lines with secondary lines from $65-$79.
JM Fitzgerald & Co, Quorn, sold 236 1.5-year-old, July-shorn wethers for $96 while DJ,JM&RJ Michael, Carriewerloo, Port Augusta, sold 870 May-shorn, Moorundie Park-blood wethers to $85.
In the 1.5yo ewe section, N&C Klingner, Crystal Brook, sold a quality line of 195 May/June 2014-drop, September-shorn, Springvale North-blood ewes at $168 to top the market.
Other drafts of young ewes to sell well included 190 Lines Gum Hill-blood, August-shorn ewes from ID&VJ Hoile, Minlaton, that reached $146, while Peter Stockman, Burra, sold 160 October-shorn ewes for $161.
Glen Devon Props, Mount Pleasant, offered 460 1.5yo September-shorn ewes which made to $132 and Panaramittee, Yunta, sold 380 Broadoak-blood ewes at $125.
Auctioneers had to work hard to get bids in the breeding ewes with the trade providing most support.
Veitch Ag, Warramboo, sold 80 4.5yo White River-blood, February-shorn ewes at $110 to top this category.
AR&DL Wenske, Kimba, sold 106 2011-drop, October-shorn ewes at $101, while 330 Greenfields-blood ewes from LR&CH Nutt, Black Rock, reached $98 and Kanyanka Props, Carrieton, sold 250 4.5yo ewes for $97.
The next Jamestown market will be held on November 12.
