Last week at Corindhap, west of Geelong, Mt Mercer restocker John Freeman paid $110.50 for 596 for 2 1/2-year-old Merino wethers, in what was believed to be a Victorian auction record, reports the Weekly Times. The Wurrook-bloodline wethers, bred and sold by Jim Boyle, were carrying a six-month or $20 of wool, according to the article.
Reporter Brian Clancy wrote that the $110.50 was paid less than hour after Carranballac restocker Tony Liston paid $110 for 395 1 1/2-year-old wethers at Bruce and Paul Walton's reduction sale.
Both vendors were thrilled with the result.
"Never ever received a price like that," said Bruce Walton.
"It makes you glad you stuck with sheep," Mr Boyle said.
Clancy continues,
"The Boyle and Walton sales were part of the Lismore-Western Plains circuit sale which also saw live exporter Samex pay $98 for 403 3 1/2-year-old November shorn wethers estimated at 65kg.
Samex buyer Russell Blain said the wethers would be part of a shipment to leave Portland on Friday.
It was a big bonus for vendor Nigel Long of Rokewood who had knocked back an offer of $85, delivered to Portland, for the wethers prior to Christmas.
Mutton processors were also active at the circuit sale, but found the older ewes more to their liking, paying to a top of $89 for a run of Tim Bingley's 4 1/2-year-old Merino ewes.
Last week's hectic market for Merinos followed a Victorian record of $213 paid the previous day at Ballarat for 1 1/2-year-old Border Leicester-Merino ewes bred and sold by Colin Smith of Carranballac.
Justification for a lift in the sheep prices also coincided with a sharp rise in the wool market which saw the AWEX Eastern Market Indicator end the week at 926c/kg, up 47c/kg on the pre-Christmas market close.
The supply squeeze on all classes of sheep was also reflected at Monday's Bendigo market where lamb and mutton prices continued to edge up.
Young lambs - 12-24kg carcass - averaged $98 or 454c/kg and heavy fat Merino wethers sold to $110.
The National Livestock Reporting Service's Erich Strein said the prices were amazing."