BUYERS and onlookers crowded the sheep yards at the Hewton family's Moodiarrup property last week, kicking off the clearing sale, held by Westcoast Livestock.
Quick work was made in selling the eight pens of Merinos featuring Beaufort Vale bloodlines amid good competition, which saw some bidders walk away empty-handed.
The top-priced lot was hammered down to Martin and Felicity Hallett, Orrvale Grazing Co, Kojonup, when they paid $152 a head for a pen of 398 3.5-year-old Merino ewes which had been running with Suffolk rams.
Rounding out their purchase, the Halletts also secured 188 2.5-3.5yo Merino ewes for $140 a head, which had also been running with Suffolk rams.
Mr Hallett said the Beaufort Vale bloodline was a big enticing factor and said the newly-bought sheep would fit in well with his operation.
"The December shearing date was a positive as well, and they're not too far from home," he said.
"They've also been looked after with treatments like the OJD vaccination which is important."
A pen of 300 December shorn ewes aged 2.5yo, which had been running with Merino rams, triggered strong competition between two eager buyers to eventually top out at the equal second top price of $146 to AJ Venn, Mokup.
That price was matched for the final lot, with the 252 4.5yo ewes catching the eye of TF & ME Rose, Roelands.
The ewes had been running with Suffolk rams and were December shorn.
Younger drafts of 1.5yo ewes sold at $136 a head with 464 head of October-shorn ewes, which had been running with Merino rams, selling to a Cranbrook-based producer, and 172 head December shorn ewes running with Suffolk rams, selling to Bridgetown.
June-drop achieved lambs returned a rate of $133 a head for 495 head of October shorn young Merinos, which was split between two Mt Barker operations.
Wether lambs paid $108 a head, with the 474 head of June-drop, October-shorn boys going to a new home at Capel.
Vendors Rob and Dani Hewton said they were happy with how the sheep sold.
"Given today's market we expected them to sell well and we weren't disappointed," Ms Hewton said.
"They're a good line of sheep which we've put a lot of care and effort into over the years.
"We focused particularly on wool and fertility within our flock and we've seen positive results, with our wool topping sales and lambing percentages situated around the 100 per cent mark.
"We know those factors are important to the market, and we hope these sheep will do well for their new owners going forward."
