THE rare opportunity to pick up purebred Awassi sheep from NSW has been postponed by a legal dispute.
Just 10 minutes into the sale, the acting agents Schute Bell Livestock, were forced to publicly announce to bidders the closure of the sale.
All bids were cancelled, with no bidding completed before the closure of the sale.
Vendors, Karen and Philip Grant, Cowra, planned to sell 200 sheep because they had only 28 hectares and had bred beyond their capacity.
The Grants were to offer 26 purebred rams, 27 purebred ewes, 23 crossbred rams and about 120 crossbred ewes, some of which have reached fifth-cross with Awassi.
It also would have been the first public offering of Awassi sheep outside foot and mouth and scrapie zones.
About 10 years ago, when the importers of the Awassi sheep, Awassi Australia, liquidated, Mr Grant secured his foundation stock of eight purebred rams and eight purebred ewes.
Awassi Australia had been unsuccessful in a commercial sheep dairy enterprise, of which Mr Grant was an investor.
The agents have said their clients hope to reschedule a new sale date during the coming month.
