Forbes sale is a major player in the lamb and cattle centres yet does not seem to gain the media coverage of Wagga, Bendigo, Ballarat or Dubbo. Speaking to Kimberly Chudleigh of MCC Chudleigh Dobell, Forbes, the last 10 weeks have seen this centre yarding over 50,000 lambs and sheep. Lambs have been consigned from as far away as Longreach in Queensland. With supply short the rewards for producers and agents have seen continued high prices for quality and numbers at Forbes. I would suggest if consigning lambs don’t be scared to use the MLA sale yard comparison tool to compare centres, it may be very beneficial to the final result.

Young Merino ewe sales have kicked off as expected with a range from $230 in the West to $370 in SA and Victoria. Although it is the first time in a very long time that Jamestown has cancelled the second of the young ewe sales. Driven by limited bookings it does highlight how much of an impact last years season has had in SA and the use of electronic platforms is having on physical store stock auctions, especially sheep. As a purely commercial outcome it is difficult to argue the economics of computer based marketing in some instances. Although the decline of the annual regional sheep sales has a significant impact on the rural communities. Social engagement, mental health, sharing of stories, comparison of livestock, catering, auctioneering, carriers the list goes on.

As another positive example of community following Yea, Spence Dix and Co, Clare, Joe Scammel took the plunge over the last number of years and established the Marrabel sheep sale in SA where there had not been a sale for a very long time. Yarding 8000 quality ewes from some of the best merino country in Australia it shows how producers support those that support the community.

Perhaps the importance of balance needs to be reflected upon by creating the drive for physical sales interfaced with electronic platforms to provide national competition. Often the benefit is much larger than the monetary return. Nothing highlights the negative impact on rural communities as much as the erosion of confidence in WA to remain in the sheep industry following the closure of the live export trade. Hopefully, some how, we can create the line of communication to the greater population of the damage ill informed decisions made by those that don’t understand have on the rural fabric.

First cross ewes: Considering the value of lambs and mutton I would suggest the top quality 1st cross ewes in the coming series will dig well into the $500 range. Does this make them over priced is the main question. As I have noted previously the value of the ewe is a direct reflection of the value of the lamb. The issue we have always had is the inconsistency of pricing driven by excess supply due to season or flock size. Currently we only have one dynamic in play domestically, that is season. Available kill space, limited supply and international demand all bode well however the faster we can progress to a quality value not just a commodity value for lamb the better the entire industry will be.