THE record for ewe lamb prices tumbled at the Naracoorte saleyards on Thursday, November 17, with Lameroo vendor McPiggery making $326.
The 176 March/April-drops were from Johnos and Paxton rams and Gunallo dams. The pen was knocked down to Southern Australian Livestock agent Mat McDonald.
McPiggery sheep manager Duane Simon said he was very pleased with the price.
“Our previous highest price would have been here at Naracoorte in 2011, when prices were really high, but they still wouldn’t have come near this price,” he said.
The sale started off strongly with Pinkerton Palm Hamlyn & Steen kicking off the auction, offering 95 ewe lambs from Merravale, which were knocked down to Landmark Naracoorte’s David Heinrich for $290.
It did not take long for prices to hit $300, with the second pen making exactly that. The pen of 148 Coolawang-bloods came in from JJA&RLV Boddington, and were sold to PPHS Millicent.
But just as quickly, returns ducked under the $300 mark, with the next pen, 162 Duenclin/Blackgate-blds from Wheaton Farms selling for $284.
ME&JE Pridham, Corlinga, sold 129 Paxton-blds at $280, Rianida had 88 at $264 and CJ&CA Pfitzner, Frances, had 83 at $284.
Apsley, Vic, couple Don and Jo Murdoch, and regular Naracoorte first-cross sellers, were happy with the tops of their lambs – a line of 137 – that made $250.
About halfway through the sale Marmon Pastoral, Jabuk, set a price record, with 269 ewe lambs making $310.
It was right towards the tail-end of the sale that the McPiggery record-breakers were offered up and smashed the price barrier.
