THE national first-cross ewe record was broken at Naracoorte today, where future breeders sold to $538.
The previous record was $516, paid for 1.5-year-olds at Bendigo's annual sale in Vic on Friday.
But in true style, the James family from Coolawang Pastoral Co, Mundulla West, went one better with their top 104 October-shorn June/July 2020-drop first-cross ewe hoggets making the $538 at Naracoorte.
The record vendor-bred ewes sold to Guthrie Farms, Dean, Vic, through Elders Naracoorte's Alan Thomson, while the James family also sold a second pen of 168 at $500 to Tim Widdison, Tarpeena, who bought last year's top price ewes, also from Coolawang, and a third pen of 124 at $496.
Nearly 20,000 1.5yo first-cross ewes were offered at Naracoorte today, grossing $7.14 million.
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The sale was interfaced with AuctionsPlus for the first time, with 378 logged in and two successful purchasers.
Overall, the 1.5yos averaged $379 - slightly down on the $402 average from last year's sale.
Agents said there was a noticeable premium for vendor-bred ewes, with top-quality ewes making exceptional prices and opportunities for value buying on the middle and lower end.
There is another sale next Thursday (November 18) at Naracoorte, where more than 25,000 first-cross ewe lambs will go up for sale from 12.30pm.
MORE TO COME
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