Both the top and the average price paid were up on 2024 at this year’s Uralba White Suffolk Stud’s on-property sale.
Stud principal Paul Dolling said there was now an Australia-wide scarcity of breeding sheep.
“Those that have sheep now are in it for the duration of highs and lows I think,” he said.
“The amount of ewes being sold for slaughter over the last few years, due to lack of feed and high prices, has made a shortage of breeding sheep nationally. This will keep the prices of sheep in general high purely on the ratio of supply and demand.
“When we have a better rainfall and feed year, there won’t be much work involved in getting over $280/lamb. Surely we won’t have another year like this one – for a while anyway.”
Uralba White Suffolk sold all 79 rams offered, with the top price of $2200 paid by Arno Bay farmer Ned Lienert.
Bulk buyer Almond Grove Props bought 11 rams averaging $600; while Belowie Pty Ltd bought six rams averaging $733.
Each buying seven rams were Darke Peak’s Jalebro Park to an average of $1257, and MA & GM Noble, of Cleve, to an average of $800.
