Keith sets $408 state record benchmark

The Keith Merino Breeders Association feature ewe sale rarely misses out on entering record territory and it was Allens Warrawee Park, Keith, who nabbed the $408 top price for their run of Moorundie-bloods.

The 300, 1.5 year-old ewes were August-shorn and knocked down to Merritt Livestock by Elders Keith auctioneer Steven Doecke.

Vendor Micheal Allen went the extra mile for this year's off-shears sale and individually weighed each ewe, to ensure it was a "super" even lineup for buyers.

The average weight of the 1.5yo ewes was 68 kilograms and according to Mr Allen, he aimed for that weight range each year.

"We wanted to present the ewes as well as possible," he said. "The return exceeded out expectations."

The Allen's are no stranger to taking out the top price at Keith, after making a $290 national record two years ago.

Mr Doecke said the Allen family's sheep were a recognised brand at the sale.

"The quality of the run was excellent and we thought they would fetch anywhere between $390 and $400 but to go over was fantastic," he said.

There were three buyers caught in the tussle for the top price sheep, including an interstate buyer on the phone but the final bid was made in the saleyard.

Mr Doecke said the middle run of the sheep were between 60-64kg, which is on track for most seasons.

"There was a small window of a season for producers and the condition scores were good," he said.

The sale yarded 17,000 sheep and prices held up across most sections of the sale, with young ewes maintaining momentum throughout the sale.

Moorundie South Proprietary Limited, offered 151 Moorundie-blds that were August shorn and sold to Spence Dix & Co for $392.

The Allen family offered a further 300 Moorundie-blds, with 100 selling to Merritt Livestock for $390 and 200 snapped up by Elders Keith for $365.

A run from Gum Hill Pty Ltd, Mount Bryan, of 342 Lines Gum Hill-blds made $374. The September-shorns were sold to Richard Harvie, PPHS.

Lines Family Partnership, Keith, sold 200 Lines Gum Hill-bld August-shorns to Thomas DeGaris & Clarkson at $374, while Moorundie South offered a further 200 Moorundie-blds at $368 that sold to Spence Dix & Co.

Gum Hill offered another run of 207 Lines Gum Hill-bld September-shorns that made $354 to Spence Dix & Co.

Vandeleur Rural Holdings, Tintinara, had a couple of runs of Rices Creek-bld 1.5yo ewes, with a even split of 406 each going to S Finnigan Holdings through McKean & McGregor Livestock, Ballarat, Vic, for $352 and $348 to PPHS.

Spence Dix & Co's Rodney Dix said sheep were presented in "outstanding" condition, despite not having the best season.

"There was a late start to the season and very wet winter," he said.

"There has not been a very long growing season and it has affected the weight in the stock."

According to Mr Dix, on average, ewes were about five to 10 kilograms lighter when compared to last year's yarding.

"Ewes were lighter but it did not affect buying behaviour - competition was as good as ever," he said.

"We were hopeful we would reach over the $400 mark for the top price and the ewe quality helped that happen."

Nutrien Ag Solutions Keith were entrusted with 709, 1.5yo ewes from Densley Nominees, Keith.

A portion of 255 were sold to Elders Keith for $355 and the other half made $295 and sold to TDC Penola.

In the breeding ewe section, 5.5yo ewes made the highest price across all older ewe age groups, after 144 Rices Creek-bld August-shorns from the Vandeleur family made $272, bought by PPHS Naracoorte.

A complete drop of 140, 2.5yo Benefield-bld September-shorn ewes from KJ Gierke, Nildottie, sold to Dunira Prime Lamb, Manoora, for $270 and topped the age group.

A complete flock dispersal from WD&JD Leske Proprietary Limited, Coonalpyn, was offered through Nutrien Ag Keith and made $240 for 2.5yo Rices Creek-bld July-shorn ewes bought by Nutrien Ag Bordertown.

The same vendor also offered 155, 3.5yo Rices Creek-bld ewes, which made $235 to TDC Penola and a further 146, 4.5yo Rices Creek-bld ewes made $220, heading the same way.

But it was P&D Miell, Tintinara, that made the 3.5yo category $266 top price for 100 Superior Wool Merino-blds bought by Spence Dix & Co.

GR&FJ Zadow, Karoonda, offered 101 Kamora Park-blds and made the 4.5yo ewe section's $262 top price. The ewes were sold to Elders Coonalpyn.

Keller Partners, Tintinara, made $252 for 180, 5.5yo Ramsgate-bld ewes bought by an AuctionsPlus bidder.

Spence Dix & Co's Luke Schreiber knocked down the agency's run of ewes and said expectations of both the buyer and vendor were met.

"Buyers had a great gallery of sheep to choose from and they could buy with confidence," he said.

Ewe lambs were scarce, with one pen of 100 Ridway-blds from P Carey, Murray Bridge, making $170 to Spence Dix & Co.

Senior Park offered 1459 wethers in total, with two pens topping the section at $180.

One pen of 515 Senior Park-blds were sold to Nutrien Ag Warnambool, Vic, and another 520 were sold at the same price to JBS Australia, Yambinya, NSW.

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