Red hot prices at Katanning

Merino ewe prices were red hot and well above last year’s sale when two-year-olds made $130.50 a head at the WASLA special ewe sale in Katanning.

Landmark and Elders agents yarded 11,968 head, mostly ewes except for 1496 wether lambs, despite half a million WA sheep, mostly breeding stock, being sold over east in recent months.

WA cockies are still making good money on eastern states orders and from local producers looking to restock.

Ahead of the Friday sale, Landmark auctioneer Mark Warren told the crowd it was one of the last opportunities to buy breeding stock.

Buying throughout the sale, the Kevin Matthews Family Trust purchased the Landmark and Elders top lines.

Allawah Grazing’s line of 366 June-shorn black-tag ewes in the Landmark catalogue were the sale top, while 164 Mianellup one-year-old September-shorn ewes paid a top of $118.50 in the Elders line up.

Mr Matthews, who is looking for more ewes, purchased eight lines, buying for eastern states orders and for replacements on his Kojonup property.

Compared with last year, prices were up: 1.5-year-old ewes made $60–$128.50, up from $51.50–$80.50; 2.5-year-olds made $69–$113, from $63.50–$73.50; 3.5-year-olds made $55–$102 (no comparison); 4.5-year-olds paid $74–$116.50, from $69; and 5.5-year-olds paid $55–$90, from $46–$58.50.

In the Landmark catalogue, Landmark Mt Barker brought the top line of 1.5-year-olds, 161 Glenorchy Estate March-shorn with Willemenup/Anglesey bloodlines, for $128.50.

Strath-Haddon Merino stud made $113 per head for 370 October-shorn 2.5-year-old ewes, bought by A.G. and L.J. Mills, while the Kevin Matthews Family Trust paid $102 for Orr Brothers 3.5-year-old July-shorn ewes.

Primaries Narrogin bought the top pen of 4.5-year-olds, 314 F1 Samm cross ewes, from I.F. and K.M. Walker for $116.50.

Four lines of 5.5-year-old ewes were offered with a top of $84, and October-shorn Willemenup lambs made $90. One pen of wether lambs made $54.

Mr Warren said the sale was extremely strong with values similar to most sales, and the quality was excellent.

In the Elders catalogue, two lines of 1.5-year-old ewes made $96.50–$131: April-shorn Willemenup blood offered by F.T. Diprose and bought by Pardee Grazing and 59 September-shorn from R.J. Argyle purchased by Landmark Mt Barker.

L.J. and L. Page from West Pingelly sold a pen of 2.5-year-old September-shorn Merino ewes with Bittleyonge bloodline for $69 and 3.5-year-olds for $55.

J.M. Hebb purchased 190 September-shorn 4.5-year-olds for $92, while the Kevin Matthews Family Trust paid $90 for A.T. and D. Morgan’s 5.5-year-old Wallinar ewes.

C.J. and M.A. Devine paid $83 for 270 Merino ewe lambs from T.J. and J.A. Powell, while Merino wether lambs made a top of $50.