OUTSTANDING young ewes sold to a season-high $183 at Jamestown sheep market last Thursday, but the vast majority of 1.5-year-old ewes fetched prices far below the previous market.
The top price came for a standout offering of 226 May/June 2012-drop July shorn Nyowee and Gum Hill blood ewes from DS Barr Farms, Balaklava.
RH&HM Stockman, Burra, sold 250 April/May 2012-drop August-shorn East Bungaree blood ewes at $135.
LR&CH Nutt, Orroroo, sold 155 May/June 2012-drop, August shorn Greenfields blood ewes at $128.
Secondary 2012-drop ewes were $25 to $30 cheaper, and in many cases prices failed to show a premium over good-condition older ewes.
Landmark's Don Cullen said the lack of competition for younger ewes meant buyers were able to grab a bargain.
"There were plenty of young ewes that didn't make a lot of money that represented very good buying," he said.
"There were 4.5-5.5yo and even up to 6.5yo ewes making as much if not more than some of those pens of young ewes."
Elders' Scott Fleetwood said buyers appeared to be looking for bigger lines, and the cheaper prices meant that even the trade was securing some good young ewes.
Prices on top-quality breeding ewes were firm, with Lock Valley Pastoral achieving a sale-high $108 for 90 April/May 2011-drop July-shorn Bunyara blood ewes.
Seconds prices were $5 to $8 dearer, with many at the sale surprised by the increase in demand ahead of young ewes.
Plain-ewe prices eased slightly, most pens $5-$8 cheaper.
The top 3.5yo ewes were sold by SE&JA Chapman, Peterborough - 95 F1 SAMM June/July 2010-drop March shorn.
Jacka Partners, Jamestown, sold 150 April/May 2009-drop August-shorn ewes, Bradfield blood, at $83.
KJ,CR,&BJ Teague, Orroroo, sold 95 April/May 2008-drop August shorn Orrie Cowie blood ewes at $78. The best 6.5yo ewes came from KC&BF Tonkin, Ceduna, 110 August/September 2007-drop August shorn Dohnes, Coolibar blood, making $65.
* Full report in Stock Journal, October 10 issue, 2013.
