Cooranga on-property sale enjoys engagement from buyers

The James family achieved a full clearance of all 11,756 sheep for a $93.11 average and a top price of $142.

That price was achieved for the first run of 190 ewe lambs, sold to Elders Millicent on behalf of Chris Gilbertson, Millicent.

The second highest price on the day was also recorded by Elders Millicent on behalf of Mr Gilbertson, who bought 699 ewe lambs for $128 or $2.81/kg at an average weight of 45.50kg.

The Gould family, Greenways, bought 213 for $113 or $2.58/kg, as well as 150, 45.4kg ewes for $118 or $2.69/kg.

Elders Lucindale on behalf of the Hocking family, Lucindale, bought 500 for $117 or $2.68/kg, while 117 were bought by Elders Mount Gambier for $108 or $2.48/kg.

In the ewe lamb offering of 5747, an average of $94.41 was achieved while the 6009 wether lambs averaged $91.87.

A top price of $127 was achieved in the wether lamb offering for 122, 55.2 kilogram wethers, equating to $2.30/kg, to Fletcher International Exports, Dubbo, NSW.

Reflective of the market, the prices were down from last year when there were 6792 first cross ewes sold to $300 and 6520 wethers sold to a $171 top and $147 average overall.

Another 782, 50.60kg wethers sold to a price of $116 or $2.39/kg to Fletchers, which then bought 858, 47.80kg lambs for $116 or $2.43/kg.

Elders Lucindale auctioneer Ronnie Dix said, considering the current sheep industry prices, it was a very good sale.

"In the ewe lambs it was evident we had a lot of repeat buyers come back and in the wether lambs we have buyers float in and out from year to year," he said.

"What was obvious was the premium in the ewe lambs that were joinable straight away and as soon as we saw ewe lambs under 40 kilograms, we saw that price get back to reality."

There was a significant opportunity for farmers to welcome ewe lambs to their farm given the current prices, he said.

"These ewe lambs are at the start of their six or seven year cycle for breeders and I haven't seen ewe lamb prices like these in 14 years," he said.

The majority of ewe lambs on the day were sold to regular buyers, with the majority of wether lambs sold to Fletchers.

PPHS chief executive officer Robin Steen, Naracoorte, said the sale exceeded expectations, with impressive averages.

"Probably the strength of the sale was the pricing of the wether lamb portion," he said.

"All the lambs being shorn makes a big difference, as they can go onto feed and that's what makes it very strong."

Because of the wet winter, the lambs were probably six to eight kilograms lighter than usual, Mr Steen said.

"They had done it pretty tough through June, July and August and that obviously doesn't help their growth," he said.

"At the end of the day they were rewarded with repeat buyers who came back to buy the sheep, because they do so well."

Cooranga's Wendy James-Ross said she thought the sale went pretty well.

"Obviously it's way back from the last couple of years, but that's just the way it is at the moment," she said.

"We had a few repeat buyers and that's always nice when people keep coming back.

"Clearly there's buying opportunities when prices are back like they are this year, because the prices aren't going to stay down forever."

The sale was conducted by PPHS and Elders.