Ewes in demand, selling for almost double prices paid at same sale last year
Off the back of record low WA sheep numbers, producers with ewes in last week's Elders Great Southern Ewe Sale at Katanning were rewarded with solid prices.
Values reached $263, $137 more than at the same time last year and a total clearance of the 8707 head yarding, pushed the overall average to $228, $132 more than in the 2024 sale.
A combination of local reduction and genuine dispersal Merino lines from Katanning, Kojonup, Cranbrook, Datatine and Tambellup were penned, alongside drafts from Wandering, Boyup Brook, Dinninup and Kulin.
This resulted in confident bidding from producers looking to increase their breeding flock numbers at one of the final ewe sales of 2025.
Sale summary
- Autumn shorn
- 2.5yo ewes: $260
- 3.5yo ewes: $263
- 4.5yo ewes: $240
- Winter shorn
- 1.5yo ewes: $221
- Spring shorn
- 1.5yo ewes: $210-$234
- 2.5yo ewes: $220-$232
- 3.5yo ewes: $219-$230
- 4.5yo ewes: $220
While the yarding comprised mostly of maiden spring shorn lines, the Elders selling team, headed by auctioneer Jay Macdonald, kicked off the sale with the proven 2.5-year-olds that topped at $260 and averaged $234.
In his opening remarks, Mr Macdonald encouraged potential bidders to "jump in" because prices weren't likely to come down next season and there would be an even smaller number of ewes available for sale, given current market trends and forecasts.
The 1.5yo yarding attracted a top price bid of $234 for a line of spring shorn ewes and averaged $222, while the two 4.5yo lines, shorn in March and October, brought $240 and $220 respectively.
The overall top price of the day presented itself during the sale of the three-line yarding of mature 3.5yo ewes that averaged $243.
Barry, Peta, Jarrad and Ashlee West, Evasham Farms, Kulin, trucked 1160 genuine 2.5-4.5yo ewes to Katanning following the decision to disperse their owner-bred, Collinsville blood, March shorn flock.
Their 328-strong line of 3.5yo ewes was snapped up for the $263 top price by Elders stud stock sales specialist, Russell McKay, who was on the phone to Elliot Richardson, Mianelup Grazing Co, Gnowangerup.
Mr Richardson will utilise the draft within his White Suffolk prime lamb production program.
Mr McKay, who has classed the West family's Merino flock for at least 25 years, said a change in farm production direction persuaded the Wests to offer their entire self-replacing ewe flock in this year's sale.
"It's a white woolled, productive and long stapled flock," Mr McKay said.
"The Wests always sell their sheep at good values and their associated 20 micron wool clip also attracts a high price each year."
A draft of 440 Evasham Farms 1.5yo ewes with the same breeding and shearing also attracted the overall second top price of the day at $260.
Lionel Ainsworth, United Enterprises, Mokup, secured the ewes alongside four other 1.5yo, 2.5yo and 3.5yo lines from various vendors, making him one of the most active buyers of the sale with 1810 head to his name.
Mr Ainsworth is selling 1800 Dorpers and said he wanted to replace his current flock with the same number of Merinos for ease of management on parts of his lease country.
Other vendors with large numbers included Eddington Farms, Katanning and RE & OM Treasure & Sons, Wandering.
Three generations of the Bushell family, including Andrew and his wife Jo, one of their three daughters Alice, Andrew's parents Rod and Gaye, Jo's mother Whispie Bayly, Mukinbudin and their Eddington Farms stock manager, Lois Griffin, were there to watch as their three 1.5-3.5yo October shorn, Woodyarrup blood lines were knocked down to a top of $230 twice.
As a result of the family's desire to offload a few numbers in the lead-up to summer, the ewes found homes with buyers United Enterprises, Mokup, PJ & TJ Hams, Tambellup and Moir Nominees, Borden.
Bob Treasure, RE & OM Treasure & Sons, Wandering, accompanied Elders Narrogin branch manager, Reece Drayton, to Katanning, closing a long and proud production chapter with the dispersal of three final lines of 1.5yo and 4.5yo October shorn, Auburn Valley blood ewes, which topped at $234 to an undisclosed buyer.
While the genuine dispersal lines attracted slightly higher values overall, other lines to crack the $230 mark included 499 October shorn, Westerdale blood, 2.5yo ewes offered by Rhodes Pastoral, Dinninup.
They too went to an undisclosed buyer for $232, while a 227-strong line of November shorn, Barloo blood 1.5-year-olds consigned by FT Diprose & Co, Tambellup, were picked up for $231 by Terry Sampson, TM Sampson, Kendenup.
Lines that attracted slightly lower bids, in the high $220 range, included a second offering of 2.5yo ewes from Rhodes Pastoral, Dinninup, that was knocked down at $227 to Elders Darkan on behalf of two of its undisclosed sheep clients, as well as a line of October shorn, Merinotech (WA) blood, 2.5yo ewes from Yeenyellup Trust, Kojonup, that sold for $229 to Elders Kojonup agent Jamie Hart on behalf of the Blewett Family Partnership, Kojonup.
Elders, Albany agent Nigel Hawk paid good money for two lines of October shorn, Billandri blood, 1.5yo ewes consigned by Naibilli Farming, Wandering.
He paid $225 on behalf of the Smith family, Baboo Pastoral Co, Green Range.
What the agent said
Elders sale co-ordinator and Kojonup/Katanning agent Cameron Grace said the Elders Great Southern Ewe Sale offered a valuable and well-presented yarding of future and proven Merino breeding ewes.
"Vendors presented their sheep in optimal condition which encouraged plenty of confidence from buyers," Mr Grace said.
"The sale was one of depth and quality.
"Thank you to our robust Elders network for its continued support of this sale.
"It is the last chance to buy large lines of quality breeding ewes out of the saleyards for the year and it's great to see so many of them selling to local producers who will retain them in the WA sheep breeding system.
"Thanks also to all the vendors, purchasers, underbidders and carriers who continue to make this sale what it is year after year."
