Non-mulesed Merino ewes sell to $328 in first multi-vendor sale

The first AuctionsPlus multi-vendor non-mulesed Merino ewe sale has achieved strong competition and solid prices, with almost 90% of the 3,300 ewes offered selling to a top of $328.

Organised by Platinum Livestock agent Nick van den Berg, the SA Performance Non-Mulesed Ewe Sale featured 21 lots from 11 South Australian breeders, Glenurra Trust, Superior Wool Merinos, Kluska Ag, Barooka, Trengove Partners, Eyre MPM, Karawatha Park, Nalino Proprietors, Condad Country, GA Baker and Goldmine Hill.

Across the one-hour twilight auction, 15 lots sold for a combined total of 2,929 head, averaging $253. The top price of $328 was paid for 151 Poll Merino hoggets (14–16-month-old ) from SWM Merinos, Tintinara, South Australia.

The top priced lot, Merino Hogget Ewes sold for $328, offered by SWM Merinos, Tintinara, South Australia. Pic: Supplied via AuctionsPlus 

Other hogget lines sold between $212 and $320, while older and mixed-aged ewes ranged from $173 to $230. Hogget ewes averaged $290, and mixed-aged ewes averaged $211.

Merino ewes averaged $224 and topped at $288 (lot 20), with a listing from GA Baker, in Poochera, on the South Australian west coast.

212 Merino Ewes from Poochera, SA, which made $288/head. Pic: Supplied via AuctionsPlus

Poll Merino ewes averaged $195 and reached a top of $215. Poll Merino hoggets averaged $282, with a top of $328, and Merino hoggets averaged $262, topping at $284.

The sale attracted significant online engagement, with 113 logins recorded, including 74 registered users, 23 viewers and 16 guests. A total of 232 bids were placed online, with 14 active bidders participating and 10 securing purchases. The catalogue also attracted more than 3,500 views, highlighting strong national interest in non-mulesed and performance-bred Merino ewes.

Mr van den Berg said that "for the first time in Australia, buyers will be able to select ewes based on their sires average ASBVs".

Mr Van den Berg also said the results were encouraging given the current market and demonstrated that non-mulesed lines were being well supported by buyers.

The sale was supported by ZQ Merino and all buyers highlighted the advantage in collating non-mulesed ewes in one sale, he said.