Studs vie for new field day prize

LODDON Valley Merino studs have a new competition to enter when they stage Victoria’s first major field day of the year at Serpentine next week.

Competition for the best pen of three paddock run ewe lambs will honour Doug Todd of Ninuenook Stud, Jeruk, who passed away last year aged 91.

Doug had first registered the Ninuenook Merino Stud, on the Avoca River flood plain between Boort and Wycheproof in 1969.

The new prize will be judged by Elizabeth Todd and Doug’s daughter Lou Hanmer.

Ninuenook stud has been part of the Loddon Valley field day since it was first held in 1981.

Loddon Valley studs will also vie for the pen of three rams that was last year won by Erroll Hay of Kamarooka Park stud.

Field day president Kevin Hynam said: “With 2022 being a challenging year due to flooding and an extremely wet spring, it has highlighted the need for sheep with good constitution, correct sound feet and the need for high quality white weather proof wool.

“Our field day offers the opportunity to view a range of merino types bred selectively by each stud breeder to suit their goals and environments.

“Although 2023 has shown a correction in the lamb and mutton markets, Merino wool prices have increased closer to a sustainable level.”

The field day at Serpentine Recreation Reserve will see 11 studs displaying their sheep while there will be on-property displays at Terrick West, Kamarooka Park, Kedleston Park and Willera studs.

Kedleston Park, the most successful exhibitor in the history of the pen of three ram competition, has returned to an onproperty display after last year exhibiting at Serpentine.

Trade displays will also be open at Serpentine throughout the day with competition winniners announced late afternoon.

SIMILAR lamb numbers but a step back in quality again with less weight and finish evident across the yarding at Bendigo on Monday.

One exporter and one major domestic processor didn’t operate, and overall the buying group showed less intensity and demand for numbers compared to a week ago.

The market tended to drift down, with lamb prices from firm to $3 to $10 easier, although there was bigger falls over some of the plainest store lambs which only received subdued restocking interest.

Heaviest export lambs over 30kg cwt from $235 to a top of $254; the heavy 2630kg pens varied from $201 to $234; best heavy trades, 24-26kg, $186 to $206; general run of domestic lambs $155 to $190.

The sale did show a wide carcass price spread at times, most of the better style crossbred lambs estimated as costing processors 750 to 790c/kg cwt.

Crossbred store lambs showing reasonable breeding and frame $110 to $150, but there was several large lines of very small unshorn lambs at $34 to $48 to the paddock.

The sheep market opened dearer in the morning session but showed a much cheaper trend when agents returned to the mutton run after the lambs had been sold. Not all the regular buyers were fully active.

Heavy crossbred ewes $98 to $151 and best Merino ewes in wool to $144. Lot of trade and light sheep from $40 to $90.

The change in price mid-way through the sheep market created mutton rates which stretched from 200c to over 380c/ kg cwt.

Crossbred Lambs

WJ Whatley Goornong (20) $248, P Webb Bridgewater (50) $245, SN & DA Turnbull Bridgewater Nth (40) $238, AK Collins Bridgewater (77) $235, Burnewang Nth Past Rochester (85) $233, TJ & AB Dixon Echuca (8) $230, D & C Gunther Pyramid Hill (62) $230, Raleigh Estate Rochester (71) $228, Wokanmel Past Co Roch- ester (31) $225, D & H McKinley Leichardt (47) $224, P & T Colvin Powlett Plains (34) $224, Wattleton P/L Traynors Lagoon (47) $224, G & L Langley Newbridge (60) $224, DJ & AL Hughes Rochester (18) $215, GK & TA Turnbull Bridgewater (138) $205.

Crossbred Lambs

L McClelland & Son Lake Marmal (48) $252, Peter Schlitz Quambatook (45) $248.50, Nelson Farms Boort (63) $248.50, Elysian Downs Raywood (65) $240, Fairfield @ Myola Myola (66) $238, T & K Campbell Macorna (65) $230, G & K Pink Boort (47) $225, DL & TM Jensen Diggora West (73) $224, Mirnee P/Ship Hunter (31) $220, WL & PJ Johnson Myola East (156) $220, N & G White Wedderburn Junction (24) $218, Gredgwin Ridge Boort (55) $217, DL & CL Palmer Bamawm (63) $213, R & E Verley Jarklin (48) $211, Elliott Farms Diggora (56) $206, MD Connors Moama (71) $205, GJ & ME Perryman Woodvale (40) $205, J McDonald Woodstock (50) $203, ID & PM Durie Wycheproof (55) $199.

Merino Lambs

T & G O’Neill Canary Island (38) $160, R & E Verley Jarklin (83) $158.

Merino Hoggets

D & S Twigg Pyramid Hill (122) $200.

Crossbred Ewes

PT & KF Howard Goornong (150) $150, BW,JR & RA Baker & VC Wall Sutton Grange (65) $138, Cresswell Trading Beazleys Bridge (36) $131.

Merino Ewes

JD Cox Charlton (48) $144, GJ Chandler Barham (58) $123, JP Donaldson Buckrabanyule (33) $112.

Next week’s order: Nevins, Elders, McKean McGregor, Nuttall, Nutrien SUPPLIED BY ASSOCIATED STOCK AGENTS

Grain

Boort Grain Co-op prices on Tuesday. Wheat - ASW $347 FIS. GP1 $347 FIS. SFW1 $347 FIS.

Barley: PL1 $365 FIS. SP1 $345 FIS. PLX $365 FIS. SPX $345 FIS. Bar1 $306 FIS. Bar 2$286 FIS.

Faba $368 FIS. Faba2 $368 FIS.