{
  "id": 12233277,
  "title": "Record sheep prices can't save saleyard despite $1 lease offer",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/record-sheep-prices-cant-save-saleyard-despite-1-lease-offer",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-05T21:32:34.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News AU",
    "slug": "abc-news-au",
    "url": "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-10-06/jerilderie-saleyard-closes-no-buyer-one-dollar-lease/107195828"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On the final day of sheep sales at the Jerilderie saleyard, a record price of $524 per head was achieved for merino ewes. Murrumbidgee Council announced it would decommission the saleyards due to declining livestock numbers and increasing maintenance costs. Tom Todd, an 83-year-old veteran of the industry, shared fond memories of his time at the Jerilderie yards, noting the strong sense of community among the workers and buyers. Despite the closure, a commemorative sale was held on October 2, attracting 10,000 sheep. The closure of Jerilderie's saleyard follows similar closures in Cootamundra, Narrabri, Moree, and Grafton, reflecting a broader trend of reduced livestock numbers and shifting sales methods in the industry.",
  "summary": "Despite record sheep prices the Jerilderie saleyard will be decommissioned after Murrumbidgee Council failed to find anyone to take over its 20-year lease offered for just $1 per year.",
  "key_points": [
    "Record $524 price achieved for merino ewes at Jerilderie saleyard",
    "Murrumbidgee Council to decommission saleyards due to decline",
    "Commemorative sale held on October 2 with 10,000 sheep"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}