MURRAY BRIDGE
Yarding: 1515
Wethers to $194
STRONG support was shown at the Murray Bridge market on Monday, with steady buyer competition evident for the quality offering at the first prime lamb sale of the season.
Elders Murray Bridge livestock manager Justin Robertson said the low yarding was due to lambs being "a fraction behind where they normally are", in light of the tough season.
"People lambed down in unfavourable conditions in the summer, and lambs are just that little bit lighter than they normally would be," he said.
"Next market we will have a much bigger yarding."
Landmark Murray Bridge livestock agent Kevin Keller said bidding competition was healthy.
"All the processors appeared to be active, and considering the number of stock there, there was still plenty of buyers looking at the feeder lambs, which sold extremely well," he said.
There was a strong presence of restockers at the market, and Mr Keller said lighter lambs were in demand.
JG Richards, Brinkley, achieved the sale's top price of $194, for a pen of 23 April/May 2018-drop Merino wethers that sold to JBS.
The second-highest price went to RM&TE Hein, Burdett, who sold 18 April/May 2019-drop Merino-White Suffolk lambs at $193.
Nalpa Pastoral, Strathalbyn, made $190 for 26 sold to TFI.
DW Kubenk & Sons, Murray Bridge, sold 42 at $188, and received $176 for 46 sold to Midfield. They also sold 72 at $164.
Simmons Farms, Cookes Plains, made $184 for 83 sold to JBS, $174 for 10 sold to Mount Pleasant Butcher, and sold 27 that made $170.
A pen of 163 crossbred lambs from David Arbon, Wynarka, made $167, with the same price paid for 64 from DJ Fromm & Sons, Walker Flat. DM&SM Schirmer, Cambrai, sold a pen of 95 for $165.
DD& PB Schiller, Karoonda, sold 70 at $165, and MC&JE Pope & Sons, Brinkley, sold 97 at $151.
The next Murray Bridge sheep sale will be held on August 26.