THE final Jamestown market for the year saw a weakening of prices for ewes of all ages but competition within the processing sector meant there was still high demand for lambs.
Buyers were also keenly aware of the nationwide lack of young ewe numbers, helping to push prices to a top of $260 for 246 Moorundie Park June/July 2019-drop ewes from Moolooloo Props, Wirrabara.
The ewes averaged 52 kilograms and sold to Southern Australia Livestock Tumby Bay.
KD Fromm, Orroroo, made $240 for 160, 1.5 year old Baderloo-bld November-shn ewes that sold to Elders Jamestown.
WJ Sampson & Sons, Wudinna, made $232 for 102 Glenville-bld September-shn ewes that sold to Spence Dix & Co Jamestown.
RG&KA Behn, Riverton, made $200 for 80 November-shn Ridgway-bld June/July 2019-drops that sold to Nutrien Ag Melrose.
Nutrien Ag Solutions Jamestown auctioneer Shannon Jaeshcke said lamb prices were firm compared with past markets but ewe quality and a smaller yarding caused a weakening of prices for young ewes.
"Feed and stubbles are readily available and that should keep prices for lamb pretty firm," he said.
"The cheaper trend of ewe prices was mostly likely caused by producers already buying in replacements but quality would have played a role too."
Three-and-a-half-year-old ewes made to $240 for 99 Brenalta-bld ewes from Hayfield, Yongala, that sold to Elders Jamestown, while NB Pratt, Georgetown, made $186 for 60 November-shn Gum Hill-blds that sold to Nutrien Ag Orroroo.
JPG Carey, Booleroo Centre, made $220 for 201 Gum Hill-bld ewes that sold to a Mildura buyer on AuctionsPlus, while a pen of 63 Hamilton Run/F1 Dohne June/July 2016-drop ewes from BD&AK Williams, Jamestown, made $218 and sold to Mark Carter, Kadina.
Older ewes made to $198 for 269 Baderloo-bld December-shn ewes from GR Coleman, Jamestown, that sold to Elders Jamestown.
Wethers topped at $175 for 303 Spingvale North-blds from N&C Klinger, Huddleston. The May/June 2020-drop November-shns sold to TFI.
MH Blieschke, Melrose, offered 139 Bradfield-bld October-shn wethers that were sold to TFI for $154. The May/June 2020-drops averaged 50.7kg.
Wilkatana Station Sawer Farms', Port Augusta, 391 April/May/June 2020-drop woolly Karawatha Park-bld wethers made $153 and sold to Nutrien Ag Mount Pleasant.
CC Cooper & Co, Jamestown, made $152 for 195 Gum Hill-bld wethers that averaged 49.7kg. The November-shns sold to TFI.
Crossbred lambs made to $158 for 140 June/July 2020-drop Jardene White Suffolk crossbred lambs from Gowan Brae, Melrose, that sold to Nutrien Ag Jamestown.
HJ Philp, Peteborough, made $153 for 50 October-shn Poll Dorset crossbred lambs that sold to TFI.
LK Duffy and Co, Orroroo, offered the largest run of crossbred lambs, with 250 woolly White Suffolk Merino lambs selling to TFI for $151.
Vendor, Mayfield, Belalie East, offered 110 September-shn ewe lambs that made $178. The Collandra North-blds averaged 44.8kg and sold to Nutrien Ag Jamestown.
South African Meat Merino crossbred ewe lambs made $198 for 151 October-shn Hillridge-blds from PC&KA Winter, Wudinna, and sold to TFI.
Elders Jamestown auctioneer Scott Fleetwood said processors bid on stock that was not generally secured for that market.
"Lamb prices were strong because processors were competing strongly for whatever was there," he said.
Vanessa Binks
I am the Markets Editor and journalist at the Stock Journal. I am based at Nuriootpa in SA's lower north.
I am the Markets Editor and journalist at the Stock Journal. I am based at Nuriootpa in SA's lower north.
