Abbey’s Golden Shears first

LAANECOORIE’S Abbey Curnow at the weekend became the first Australian to win the junior wool handling title at the Golden Shears championship in New Zealand.

Abbey was the Victorian ambassador in Shearer Wool Handler’s exchange program with Elite Wool Industry Training that saw ambassadors attend a two-day pre-Golden Shears workshop before competing and representing Australia in the titles.

She was a clear winner for the event that was first added to the Golden Shears program 38 years ago.

After starting as a roustabout in shearing sheds when finishing school four years ago, Abbey last year completed 12 months of woolclassing training.

And achievements in theoretical and practical assessments saw Abbey named the Shearing Contractors’ Association of Australia ambassador for her excellent workmanship, top attitude, and ability to work well in a team.

Abbey has worked closely with trainer Marion Kelly who is a former Australian wool handling representative at Golden Shears.

Bendigo Sheep & Lamb Market Report

A significantly cheaper market on lambs, with heavy lambs most affected. Heavy and trade lambs $10-12 cheaper. Sheep $5-8 dearer.

Monday, March 6th 2023 - Bendigo Yarding: Lambs - 14,500 Sheep - 5,500

Markets

ONLY a slight change to supply at 12,600 lambs at Bendigo on Monday, however there was a noticeable decline in buyer demand.

The two major supermarkets were again absent and many other key processors were quiet amid reports most companies have good supplies of stock around them.

Slaughter lambs over 24kg cwt were $8 to $18/head cheaper in a sometimes erratic market. In contrast there was some stronger sales in the light lamb run including for any of well-bred little stores that were offered in bigger one-mark lines.

There was no super heavy lambs in this yarding. The 30kg plus export lambs sold from $225 to a top of $255, and buyers still gave reasonable support to the lead two or three pens in each agents draft.

Where the market lost the most momentum was on the heavy 26-30kg lambs which ranged from $191 to $228, the main run of fat score 3 crossbreds averaging $205.

Heavy trade lambs, 24-26kg, $172 to $192 to av $180. There was a wide price range of 650c to just on 800c/kg across processing lambs, with the majority of weights and grades averaging between 690c to 750c/kg cwt. Once under 20kg most lambs $80 to $140.

There was some dearer sales of well-bred crossbred lambs in the 12-16kg range to the pad- dock at $74 to $113. Bigger yarding of sheep at 7600 head and competition for heavy mutton improved by $5 to $15.

Heavy ewes $115 to a top of $143 at an estimated 330c to 400c/kg for most. Bigger selection of Merino wethers made $71 to $124 to also be dearer.

CROSSBRED LAMBS

Colvin Family Trust Eppalock (51) $244, Wokanmel Past Co Ballandalla (46) $234, IL Filbey Creek View (70) $220, P Webb Bridgewater (31) $213, J & J Wright Charlton (37) $194, W & J Roberts Charlton (31) $183.

CROSSBRED EWES

ALB & R McIntosh Wanalta (106) $245, DJ & ED Lees Rochester (110) $233, WJ Whatley Goornong (22) $228, SN & DA Collins Bridgewater Nth (40) $227, Robert Niven Elmore (14) $222, Mirnee Partnership Hunter (43) $215, CA & TR Borger Colbinabbin (100) $208, DL & TM Jensen Diggora West (100) $205, AB & KB Broom Neereman (31) $195, D & M McKinnon Marong (34) $125.

MERINO EWES

Rich River chaff and grain Strathallan (22) $140, M Hartland, Huntly Nth (41) $134, SN & DA Collins Bridgewater Nth (53) $125, Mooraview P/L Rushworth (31) $120, B & E Kerlin,

Grain

To discuss the marketing opportunities available for your livestock, contact the McKean McGregor team.