SALEYARD records were again broken at the Lameroo offshears sale on Friday, where 1.5-year-old Ridgway-blood ewes sold to $340 - eclipsing the yard's previous benchmark of $326 in 2019.
It was the first time Ridgway Props' Ric, Gail and Matt Ridgway, Kulkami, had topped the sale with their young grass-fed ewes and was very happy with the sale overall, as their 230 5.5yo ewes also made $240, sold on AuctionsPlus to Conargo, NSW.
"We would normally sell our older ewes privately, but the sale of these ewes fell through so it was good to have this option and get the price we did, as they weren't prepared as well as the young ewes," Ric said.
"We aim to produce quality dual-purpose sheep like many breeders, but more recently, we have really been focusing on early growth traits through our ASBVs, which is really starting to pay off, and our wool can also handle the wetter areas, which has also increased demand."
In the pen was 171 September-shorn, April/May 2019-drops, which sold to JD&RA Alexander, Kaniva, Vic, through Westec, Kaniva Vic.
Jimmy Alexander said he would be putting White Suffolk rams over the "quality ewes" to produce prime lambs.
He normally buys ewes from across SA, but had been restricted more recently because of COVID-19 border controls.
"When you are paying big money, you want to see them in the flesh and Lameroo allowed us to do that," he said.
"We have bought Ridgway-bloods in the past - we like SA's big-framed ewes to produce better lambs - and they give us a very good wool cut (8-9kg of 19M wool)."
The second-highest price 1.5yo ewes at $336 was offered by CH&AM&DC Zadow, Galga, with 214 August-shorn, March/April 2019-drop Kamora Netley Park-bld ewes, which sold on AuctionsPlus to Ouyen, Vic.
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The sale's best presented pen accolade was again awarded to DK&DM Farr, Pyap West, for the fifth time since 2012. These 221 September-shorn April/May 2019-drops, weighing 78.8 kilograms, made $330, sold to TDC.
David Farr said it is always nice to be recognised for the effort they put into their sheep and after struggling through two years of drought.
"We were also happy with the price being our best-ever," he said.
Last year's saleyard record-breakers, RM&S Pocock, Lampata, Lameroo, kicked off the sale with 263 August-shorn, May 2019-drop Lines Gum Hill-bld 1.5yo ewes, which sold at $300 to Millicent, while a second pen of 231 of the same made $290, sold on AuctionsPlus to Warracknabeal, Vic - both were return clients.
Tyringa Farming Trust, Streaky Bay, sold a large consignment of 505 August-shorn, May/June 2019-drop Keri Keri-blds, with 300 making $332 sold to PPHS account Kuchel, while the remaining 205 sold at $300 to David Jonasson, Cowangie, Vic.
Also selling well at $330 were 154 August-shorn April/May 2019-drops from Galbraith Farms, Marama, to Nutrien Gawler, while JD&BM&DJ Steer, Lameroo, sold 324 April/May 2019-drop Lines Gum Hill-blds at $324 to TDC.
Choosing to disperse his flock at the sale was Barry Manuel, Mindarie, who was "very happy" after selling his 960-head offering, particularly the ewe lambs topping the sale at $220.
Their 1.5yo ewes also made the Manuel's best-ever price of $298, while their 2.5yo ewes also topped the sale for proven breeders at $272, their 3.5yo made $250, 4.5yo made $242, and the 5.5yo made $206.
Pocock Pastoral, Lameroo, sold the top price wethers, with 212 April/May-drop Lines Gum Hill-blds making $188 and a second pen of 211 making $182.
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Alisha Fogden
Journalist at Australian Community Media newspapers since 2007.
Journalist at Australian Community Media newspapers since 2007.
