Second annual WWGA ewe sale a success
On Feb. 24, the Wyoming Wool Growers Association (WWGA) held their Second Annual Wyoming Select Bred Ewe Sale at the CAM-PLEX in Gillette.
“The Wyoming Select Bred Ewe Sale offers the highest-quality range ewes, meeting some of the most rigorous standards of any sale in the country,” reads WWGA’s website.
The sale offered open purebred and range ewe lambs, yearlings and bred two-year-olds, as well as running age and broken-mouthed ewes.
With the exception of open ewe lambs and yearlings, 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 knowledgeable Western sheep producers and veterinarians.
“While the Wyoming 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, discuss the industry and renew old and make new acquaintances,” continues the website. “The two days spent in Gillette are intended to be fulfilling, informative and fun, and we hope to meet those goals each year.”
Sale report
According to the sale report, the Second Annual Wyoming Select Bred Ewe Sale grossed a total of $14,250 across 42 head sold, at an average of $339.39 per head.
Eleven head of open range ewe lambs brought $2,915, averaging $265 per head, while 10 head of open purebred ewe lambs brought $3,260, averaging $326 per head.
Thirteen head of bred purebred yearling ewes were offered in the sale, averaging $392.31 per head, with gross sales totaling $5,100.
Three running age purebred ewes brought a total of $1,275, at an average of $425 per head, and five head of bred broken-mouthed ewes brought $1,700, at an average of $340 per head.
“The Second Annual Wyoming Bred Ewe Sale had limited offerings, but still shows great promise for young and new sheep producers looking for affordable, low-risk entry to the industry, while providing an additional marketing option for existing sheep producers,” said WWGA Executive Director Alison Crane. “For 2025, WWGA will be looking for larger volumes of yearling to broken-mouthed bred ewes to add to the consignment, while maintaining the purebred consignments.”
Hannah Bugas is the managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
