DEMAND for young ewes continued to surge at the Jamestown feature ewe sale on Thursday and despite saleyard prices across the state falling short of previous highs, a $282 top price was achieved.
Knocked down to Nutrien Ag Gawler, Crawford Park's, Georgetown, 130 one-and-a-half-year-old, Baderloo-blood ewes made the $282 top price.
The sale yarded 20,000 sheep and lambs, and bidder confidence failed to dwindle.
Demand for 1.5yo ewes continued, with Elders Gladstone snapping up 180 Garawang P/L, Georgetown, August-shorn Nyowie-blds for $270.
Glenrest Trading, Jamestown, made the same price for its 155 Gum Hill/Hamilton Run blds that were sold to Jones Livestock, Mallala.
Indoota Pastoral, Jamestown, made $268 for 110 July-shn Glen Holme-bld ewes, that sold the same way, while GR Mullighan & Co, Clare, sold 120 to Nutrien Ag Balaklava, for $266.
One of the sale's larger offerings was from BAWC, Kyancutta, that peaked at $200 for its 1.5yo tops, 100 Collinsville-blds, that were secured by active operator, Spence, Dix & Co, while its seconds, 158 Karawatha-Allalla bld ewes, made $190, going the same way.
The same vendor offered 430 wooly Karawatha-Allalla bld wethers that made $127 and 118 crossbred wooly lambs topped the section at $146, both to Pro-Stock Livestock, Mount Compass.
Making the highest price in the 4.5yo ewe section was Laskey Farming Trust, The Rock, via Orroroo, after their 275 Flairdale blds were knocked down to Spence, Dix & Co, for $222.
Cottrell & Mulligan, Hilltown, made $216 for 230 One Oak-bld April/May 2016-drops that sold to Elders Kadina.
Prices for older ewes remained consistent after the 5.5yo ewe section topped at $185 for 110 August-sh Gum Hill-blds from Portlands Nominees, Jamestown, that were bought by Nutrien Ag Kimba.
The trade dominated the wether section, and DG&SG Woolford, Kimba, made the $140 top price for 326 woolly Rices Creek blds that went to Midfield, with the seconds making $120.
BAWC made the crossbred lambs $146 top price for its 118 wooly lambs that sold to Pro-Stock Livestock.
-VANESSA BINKS
Bidders buy in best on offer to restock
AN 'immaculately' presented yarding at Jamestown's feature ewe sale last week meant the "job" met most preconceived expectations according to livestock agents.
Nutrien Ag Solutions Jamestown head auctioneer Shannon Jaeschke said it was a strong market and particular runs of breeding ewes attracted a premium for vendors.
"The $282 top price ewes were a complete drop and attracted attention and therefore a premium," he said.
"It gave buyers confidence they were sourcing the best a vendor had to offer."
Mr Jaeschke also said larger ewe lines helped "hold prices up".
"The processors were active but restocker demand was definitely present on the larger lines," he said.
Elders Jamestown's Scott Fleetwood said prices were firm across all classes of sheep.
"Very strong support considering the rain has not arrived but it was an immaculately presented sale," he said.
"The top price sheep were the last of a dispersal and also 'brand name" sheep from other vendors also attracted repeat buyers.
"But sheep went across the border into NSW and Vic as expected - it definitely propped the market up.
"Increased processor input pushed older ewe prices up."
RELATED READING: Feed flourish bolsters buyer action at sales
- Start the day with all the big news in agriculture. Sign up here to receive our daily Stock Journal newsletter.