Bids flew in at the West Wyalong Sheep Breeders sale on Wednesday, Merino ewes attracting up to $340 a head.
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Will Dean, Nutrien West Wyalong said the sale was stronger than expected for the middle run of sheep and the older ewes, with a pen of three and a half year-olds selling for $332.
There were only 5,500 sheep in the draft, making it one of the smallest spring breeders sales ever seen in West Wyalong.
"We would usually get numbers between 10,000 to 12,000," Mr Dean said.
"But, we have a lot of clients who are hanging on to their old ewes or haven't got old ewes because of how tough the last couple of years have been.
"Some clients have hung onto their culls or haven't classed as heavily to try and rebuild their flocks."
The sheep that were there, mostly ewe hoggets, were in demand.
The top price of $340 was paid by Col McDermott, Barellan for 300 April/May 2019-drop Merino ewes, August shorn, Poll Boonoke blood from the Black family, Yaccabri Pastoral, Rankin Springs.
Mr Dean said the Black family had sold at West Wyalong for a number of years.
"Their sheep were by far the best even line there today, they present them very well and there's people who come specifically for that line," Mr Dean said.
Other stand out sales in the ewe hoggets included a pen of 200 April/May 2019-drop Merinos, March shorn, Pastora blood offered by Ian Taylor, Caragabal, which sold for $326 to the Mohr family, Weethalle.
The losing bidders on that pen, Dick and Margaret Flannery, Boorowa purchased 200 July/August 2019-drop Merino ewes, May shorn, Poll Boonoke blood from account TR and RI Munro for $324 shortly after. It was the Flannerys' first time back at the West Wyalong sale in 30 years.
A pen of 200 June/July 2019-drop Merino ewes, March shorn, Laurel Park blood, offered by WJ and HJ Buttenshaw also sold for $324.
The older classed breeder ewes impressed, a pen of 280 June/July 2017-drop Merino ewes, March shorn, Bombah blood, from John and Michelle Lewis, Tullibigeal were sold for $332.
The pen was awarded Best Presented in the sale and their purchaser, Nikki Pettit, West Wyalong bought them as a starter mob.
Mr Lewis said they were very pleased with the result. It was the Lewis' first time selling in the sale after many years attending as buyers.
A highlight in the lambs were 200 Merino ewes, May/June 2020-drop, unshorn with Austral Eden blood offered by V and J Mercuri, West Wyalong. They sold for $200 to Elders Wagga.
Buyers were mostly from the Wagga Wagga, Forbes and Cootamundra regions.
The sale was conducted by Elders, Quade Moncrieff and Nutrien, and sponsored by Coprice and AGnVet Services.
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