For the fourth week in a row, agents at the Dubbo saleyards have broken a lamb price record.
A line of 211 second cross Poll Dorset lambs were sold for $286.20 a head – a new national lamb price record.
The heavy weight lambs were sold by Ross Plasto and Aaron O’Leary, Plasto and Company, on behalf of vendors Adam and Natasha Whillock, “Haddington”, Wellington.
Selling agents Ross Plasto and Aaron O’Leary, Plasto and Company, with the record-price line of crossbred lambs sold on behalf of Adam and Natasha Whillock, “Haddington”, Wellington. The lambs sold for $286.20.
The sale trumps the previous record of $284/head which was set by agents at Griffith saleyards only three days prior.
The vendor-bred lambs were estimated to weigh 44 kilograms, dressed, and were purchased by Thomas Foods International.
Mr Plasto has been a regular at the Dubbo saleyards since he was an infant.
“I have never seen prices even close to it,” he said.
The return is more than the Whillock family could have hoped for.
“We are lucky that the market is kicking along,” Mr Whillock said. “They were on the road and neighbours were saying ‘what are you doing, waiting for the market to drop’.”
A couple of years ago, the Whillock’s made and stored hay and grain, which they are now feeding out.
“These ones weren’t as good as what we would normally sell but it’s a great price in a tough season.”
The Whillock’s run 1200 sheep on their property and source their rams from local breeders Les and Gillian Ryan, Gillmore Poll Dorset stud, Yeoval and the Kelly family, Marocara Poll Dorset stud, Wongarbon.
You can read the Meat and Livestock Australia report with today’s sale results here.