Price trends blitzed to make new state saleyard record at Jamestown

The Lemon family smashed the Jamestown saleyard record with 95 one-and-a-half year old, September-shorn ewes that weighed an average of 87.7 kilograms. They were knocked down to Nutrien Ag Solutions Kadina.

Despite the $361 record being made by KJ&SJ Lemon later in the sale, young ewe prices had already blitzed previous market trends earlier in the day.

Nutrien Ag's Shannon Jaeschke said it was the highest price achieved at Jamestown for more than a decade.

"Repeat restockers bidded on the top local sheep and pushed prices up. The rain brought confidence and the bidding reflected that," he said.

"The top price pen was the heaviest line of hoggets at the market so they were always going to attract interest."

Vendor Sam Lemon said he was surprised but pleased to achieve such a "solid" return for the ewes.

"The entire market was up in price. I think buyers were looking for heavy ewes and our pen fit the bill for that," he said.

The market's first pen off the rank made $332 for a line of 242 Springvale North 1.5-year-old ewes from N&C Klingner Pty Limited, Crystal Brook, that were knocked down to TDC Livestock.

Prices remained steady throughout the young ewe section, with prices pushing above $300 consistently for ewes from well-known Mid North bloodlines.

Alsace Farming made $306 for 236 Lines Gum Hill-bld 1.5yo ewes that sold to Nutrien Ag Riverton and DH,GH,&PJ Warren, Riverton, made the same price for their 122 July-shn Undalya-bld ewes that sold to TDC.

The Warrens' complete stud ewe dispersal meant a further 120 young ewes were also offered, making $302 to TDC.

D&C Field Nominees, Burra, offered 110 Old Ashrose-bld 1.5yo ewes and made $302 to Nutrien Ag Balaklava, while Trevor Duke Nominees, Jamestown, made the same price for 70 Hamilton Run-blds that sold to TDC.

HJ Sargent & Son, Gladstone, made $300 for 104 Springvale North-bld ewes that sold to Nutrien Ag Mount Pleasant.

The 4.5yo ewe section topped at $242, twice, for 219 August-shn Karawatha Park-blds from Breezy Hill Ag, Booleroo Centre, that were sold to Nutrien Ag Kadina and Kartoona Pastoral's, Minnipa, 242 Collandra North-blds that sold to Nutrien Ag Kimba.

Kilderry Park, Marrabel, made $238 for 231, 4.5yo Ulooloo/Pindari-blds that were sold to Nutrien Ag Jamestown.

The market's prices far exceeded expectations according to Elders Jamestown's Scott Fleetwood and he said rainfall in the Mid North and pastoral areas had caused increased inquiry and pushed prices up.

"The pastoral areas in particular have responded very well to the recent rain," he said.

"There was limited processor bidding because of the higher prices which gave more room for restockers to be active."

Older ewes were also in demand, with 97, 5.5yo September-shn Moorundie Park-blds from KJ&SJ Lemon making $240 to Elders Mount Gambier and Garawang Pty Ltd, Georgetown, making $238 for 145, Baderloo-bld August-shn ewes that went the same way.

WG Fuss & Sons, Cummins, made $230 for 278, 5.5yo White River-bld ewes that were secured by TDC.

Ellebrook, Cleve, helped to maintain higher prices for older ewes, after their 141, April/May 2014-drop July-shn Lampata-bld ewes made $230 to AuctionsPlus.

The solid demand for wethers helped to finish off the market on a high note, with 240 April/May 2020-drop Glenville/Baderloo-blds from Garawang making $160 to Elders Eudunda, while GW&WT Piggott, Cowell, achieved $149 for 329 Eagle Ridge/Calcookara-blds that sold to Spence Dix & Co.

A pen of 135 September-shn O-Brien-bld ewe lambs from Kenny Pastoral, Elliston, made $190 to Elders Eudunda.

Crossbred lambs were scarce in numbers but made to $146 for 100 woolly White Suffolk/Merinos from AR&JA Mannion, Orroroo, that sold to Elders Jamestown.

BT&KS Williams, Carrieton, made $145 for 218 woolly XBL.

RELATED READING: Positive signs as EMI jumps by 102 cents