Forward pricing prompts buyer confidence

A solid sized yarding of about 20,000 sheep and lambs were on offer and Nutrien Ag Jamestown auctioneer Shannon Jaeschke said good runs of heavy feeder lambs attracted a premium.

"The forward pricing which was put out for the new year period certainly helped the job along," he said.

"A few stubble paddocks have also become available to create an opportunity for lighter style lambs to go back onto the paddock."

On the young ewe front, there was more consistency, according to Mr Jaeschke.

"There was more demand for better line of ewe hoggets," he said.

Mr Jaeschke hoped the year would finish strongly, with the two remaining sales expected to yard quality lambs.

With young ewes in improved demand, after HJ Sargent and Son, Gladstone, reached the section's $98 top price for its 107, May/June 2022-drop October-shorn, Springvale North-bloods which were snapped up by active bidder, Spence Dix and Co Nuriootpa.

Sparks Farming , Munduney, also offered a solid run of young ewes which made $94. The 104 April/May 2022-drops were Rices Creek-bld and went the same way.

Hurrell Pastoral, Lock, made $94 for its 151, June/July 2022-drop, February-shorn Roemahkita-blds which went to Spence Dix & Co Mallala.

Returns continued to hold for the well-presented pens, with GH&CJ Benson making $82 for 245, Collinsville-blds which went to Spence Dix & Co Nuriootpa.

Rundle Farming's, Kulpara, flock reduction helped them to make the same return for its 134, August-shorn Leahcim-blds to Spence Dix & Co Mallala.

In the 2021-drop section, only a handful of ewes were offered and JW&PJ Bowden, Riverton, made $68 for its 104, September-shorn Rices Creek-blds which went to Spence Dix & Co Clare.

The tops of the 2020-drops made $78 for 227, November-shorn Leahcim-blds from Rundle Farming. The flock reduction ewes went to Gary Wilson Livestock, while Banbury Props, Hallett, made $64 for 120, East Bungaree-blds to Elders Orroroo and a further 135, October-shorns from the same vendor made $60 to Elders Jamestown.

Spence Dix & Co Mallala snapped up the few 2019-drops on offer, after making the final bid on Rundle Farming's 194, November-shorn, Leahcim-blds at $56.

Returns for older, 5.5 and 6.5 year-old ewes fell away, with most making between $20-$30.

The top pen in the 5.5 year-old section was from JA Betty - Bullyaninnie, Oodla Wirra, for its 194, August-shorn, Lines Gum Hill-blds which made $30 to JBS.

In the wether section, JA Betty made the $82 top price for its 200, April/May 2023-drop Lines Gum Hill-blds. The run was August-shorn and sold to TFI.

CS&AM Simpson made $81 for 192, Gum Hill-bld October-shorn April/May 2023-drops which went to Midfield Group.

Fairvale Farming, Jamestown, offered multiple runs of wethers, with 267 Moorundie-bld October-shorns making $77 to Midfield and Holowillena Station, Cradock, had 28, August/September 2022-drop Glenville-blds make $80 to TFI.

Timana P/L, Jamestown, made $75 for 96, Moorundie-blds to TFI, while L&S Jacka, Mannararie, reached $72 for its larger run of 259 Bradfield-bld September-shorns.

Elders Jamestown stock agent Luke McCallum said lambs which weighed from 35 kilograms to 40kg were in strong demand and fetched improved returns.

"Secondary wether lambs between 20-30kg were probably back a fair bit on previous markets and the same for crossbred lambs as well," he said.

"Young, well-presented ewes were up in returns in some cases and returns were probably firm on the rest, when compared to the previous market.

Mr McCallum believed demand for well-bred wether and crossbred lambs would be maintained heading into the end of the selling season.

Crossbred lamb returns were solid, with Carlyle Holdings, Kapunda, making the $101 top price for its 136, May 2023-drop Gumhill, Anama and Newbold-bld September-shorns, which went to active bidder Gary Wilson Livestock.

Callum Brae, Booleroo Centre, made $82 for 117, woolly, July/August 2023-drop Gumview and Willochra-blds which went to Elders Kadina, while Wilton Land Trust , Jamestown, made $80 for 44, April/May 2023-drop composite crossbred lambs which went to Gary Wilson Livestock.

JP&LE&RA Strike made $78 for 58 Monreve-bld lambs which went the same way.

Woolly ewe lambs did not meet with the same demand as other sections of the market, with Saltbush Ag, Booborowie, making $25 118, Collinsville-blds which were picked up by Elders Minlaton. The same vendor made a further $23 for 84, which went the same way.