WWGA inaugural ewe sale a success
On Feb. 28, the Wyoming Wool Growers Association (WWGA) held their inaugural Wyoming Select Bred Ewe Sale in Gillette at the Cam-Plex.
“The first annual Wyoming Select Bred Ewe Sale was a great success,” noted WWGA Executive Director Dr. Alison Crane. “Ewes sold well from across the state of Wyoming and across age classes, from broken-mouthed ewes to ewe lambs. All ewes were bred with the exception of the ewe lambs.”
According to WWGA’s website, the inaugural Wyoming Select Bred Ewe Sale offered the highest-quality range ewes, meeting some of the most rigorous standards of any sale in the country. The sale offered open ewe lambs, bred yearlings, running-age ewes, broken-mouthed ewes, Rambouillet ewes, Hampshire ewes Merino/Rambouillet and Targhee ewes.
With the exception of open ewe lambs, ewes were confirmed pregnant the day before the sale and strictly sifted based on their eyes, mouth, teeth, udders, teats, body and legs. Sifting was conducted by a panel of notable Western sheep producers and veterinarians.
Sale report
According to the first annual Wyoming Select Bred Ewe Sale report, a total of 101 head were sold, with total gross sales equaling $17,650 and averaging $235.33.
Twenty-five of the total head sold were open ewe lambs, which averaged $230 and brought a total of $5,750 in gross sales, while 11 bred yearling ewes brought a total of $4,400, averaging $400.
Fourty-four Merino/Rambouillet and Targhee ewes were sold, averaging $184.09, with gross sales totaling $8,100. Thirty-one purebred Rambouillet ewes averaged $308.07 and brought a total $9,500 in gross sales.
Thirty-nine head of broken-mouth ewes averaged $192.31 and brought a total of $7,500 in gross sales.
None of the nine bred running-age ewes or six Hampshire ewes were sold through the sale.
Second annual sale
Following the success of their first sale, Crane notes WWGA is already looking forward to the second annual Wyoming Select Bred Ewe Sale, scheduled for February 2024.
“While the Select Bred Ewe Sale is about the business of transferring genetics within the sheep industry, it is also a time when sheep producers get together to visit and discuss the industry, while renewing old friendships and making new ones,” states WWGA on their website.
“The two days spent in Gillette are intended to be fulfilling, informative and fun, and we hope to meet those goals each year,” WWGA continues. “Only the healthiest, highest-quality ewes from some of the nation’s premier breeders will be accepted to the sale, assuring buyers our ewes are truly the best in the West.”
Hannah Bugas is the managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
