Low numbers had buyers digging deep into their pockets at today’s quarterly Dubbo goat sale where prices reached a high of $500 for a single Boer buck.
Prices were up more than $50 a head across the yarding, with strong support from restockers from across the Central West.
Numbers more than halved compared to the previous sale with approximately 1000 head yarded.
Local agent Joe Portelli, PT Lord Dakin and Associates, said the sale was reflective of the current market which has reached highs of over $6/kg cwt over the hooks in the past month.
“There weren’t many pens that sold under $100 (a head) today,” he said. “Numbers were right back due to some rain and there just aren’t the numbers about at the moment.”
Most of the goats came from vendors in the Mudgee, Rylestone and Coolah areas while buyers came from Sydney, Forbes and the local area.
“We had a couple of our regular processors here but a lot of restocker and feedlotter activity.”
Quality and condition of most of the goats penned was better than the previous sale, and there were very few pens of young kids on offer.
Mr Portelli said Boer bucks sold from $200, topping at $500 for a single Boer buck which won a junior champion buck ribbon at the 2017 Sydney Royal Easter Show.
Boer does were as much as $100 dearer, selling to a top of $342/hd for a pen of 9 does in kid.
Another four does from the same vendor sold for $244/hd to young goat enthusiast Riley Worner, West Wyalong.
Riley Worner, West Wyalong bought four Boer does at the Dubbo goat sale.
Boer wethers sold from $130 to $220/head.
Australian Bush Goats were also much dearer with bush billies making from $100 to $189/hd, while nannies made $100 to $150/hd.