DEMAND soared $20-$30 a head above expectations at the first of Ballarat's annual crossbred ewe sales on Friday.
Offering a 11,500-head yarding, the larger drafts of better grown young ewes made $190-$212 while second and third-draft pens made $150-$180.
A strong contingent of restocker buyers from across central Victoria, southwest and Gippsland districts were keen to secure replacements from a yarding that generally lacked quality after the opening lane of the sale.
The opening pen of the sale was offered by Rob and Dee Armstrong's Cornhill Partnership of Ararat.
Their June/July 13-drop line of Border Leicester-Merino young ewes made $212, while K Impey, Ballarat, sold a small pen of 64 BLM-crosses to the sale high of $214.
The Cornhill Partnership ewes, which were OJD vaccinated, were purchased by Alistair Alexander, South Purrumbete, while the Impey young ewes went to the Landmark agency at Ballan.
Overall seven sales were completed at or above $200, including two yards from the Blair family's line of 900 young ewes from Bamganie that made to $210.
DA&FI Boatman sold a pen of 150 July/August 13-drop young ewes that made $206, while IR & S Hurse, Carisbrook also sold a pen of 72 at $206.
Charles Stewart & Co auctioneer Jamie McConachy told Stock & Land prices on the day had exceeded expectations by $10-$20 a head.
He said good interest was expressed for the larger drafts and these pens that displayed good quality and growth saw prices exceed $190 a head frequently.
Landmark store sheep specialist, Peter Paling said early spring crossbred ewe prices were exceeded by margins of $20-$30, and $40, in the case of secondary quality lines.
"It was a great sale and these improved prices do have the support and backing from very strong demand prevailing throughout lamb and mutton slaughter markets," Mr Paling.
Graeme Nicholson, Elders said it was great sale, especially for the quality that was exhibited.
"The demand shows there is a genuine shortage of all classes of breeding stock - which is exciting prospect going forward," he said.
The demand and interest in mature-aged breeding ewes was also particularly strong with three sales of four-and-a-half year-old ewes sold from $142-$148.
Shelford vendor, Shelburn, sold a line of 580 10-drop ewes over two drafted pens that had reared 174 percent of lambs this breeding season.
Equipped with performance recorded EID ear-tags the Shelburn pens went to buyers at Kaniva and Ballan while Clearview Partners also sold a pen of 4.5yo BLM ewes at $148 while other pens of the same age made $106-$134.
The average quality display of 14-drop ewe lambs also met outstanding inquiry as better grown and joinable-age pens made $140- $158 while restocker lambs made $80- $136.
AW&DJ McClelland, Bealiba sold a pen of 120, ex Pooginook-blood by Top End Border Leicester rams for the market's best money ($158) while a second draft of the McClelland June/July-drop ewe lambs made $132.
PA Coghlan Avoca sold April/May-drop ewe lambs at $140 while C&L Hull, Talbot, sold June-drop ewes at $136.