JOINED ewes took another price hit at Urana in Southern NSW today as buyers backed away from store sheep due to the dry season.
Ewe prices were $10-$20 cheaper than recent markets, including the January sale at Deniliquin, which was one of the toughest held this season.The best price in the 11,500-head yarding was $118 for Bimbadeen's pen of 251 White Suffolk-Merino ewes, 2010-drop that were scanned-in-lamb, including 147 head that were detected with multiples.
Sales over 100 were rare with majority of SIL ewes sold from $50-$80 depending on age and breeding.
Some ewes were passed in.
With subdued values, small turnout of buyers as farmers become more worried about scarcity of paddock feed and the worry of drought.
Elders' Steve Grantham said buyer confidence was slipping daily.
He said he had a client who was prepared to buy sheep a week ago, but ruled it out today.
"Last week he was quite keen, today when I rang he said, 'No, it's not going to rain'," he said.
"This is probably the smallest crowd I've seen at Urana and there has certainly been some opportunities."
Roly Dye, from Corowa, was one producer enticed into the market on prices, he paid 66 for SIL White Suffolk-Merino ewes.
"I didn't come expecting to buy but the value was there," he said.
"They will be lambing in March which is a bit of a worry and I suppose a lot of farmers weren't prepared to take the risk."
Wether lamb market was more solid.
The best wethers sold to $68.50 – and most were $40-plus.
