BENALLA agents Rodwells and Landmark held their annual special sheep sale on Friday, offering 9500 head to an enthusiastic field of buyers.
Local district buyers gave very strong support with purchasers coming from Bendigo, Mansfield, Euroa, Ballarat, Mansfield, Wangaratta and Shepparton.
Despite numbers being slightly reduced from the previous couple of years, it was a strong sale that exceeded all agent and vendor expectations, with averages being substantially higher than 2013.
Following a good autumn, mild winter, and a very good spring, buyers were offered a high quality yarding of sheep and lambs. There was only a small tail in the yarding.
AL&AM Mort, Mardie, Lurg, achieved the top price of the sale and top of the first cross ewes, 1.5 years, at $208 a head.
The average price for the first cross ewes, 1.5 years, was $185, which was $30 higher than the 2013 sale.
The average price for the first cross ewe lambs was $129, also $30 higher.
Ron and Margaret Burden, Cooroodook, Violet Town, were paid $155 for their first cross ewe lambs to top this section of the sale. They were followed closely by L&S Kubeil, Violet Town, who sold 160 lambs for $152.
Demand was strong for all ewes of all ages with Tarcombe Herefords, Ruffy, selling first cross ewes, 2.5 years for $206, and DL Buitenhuis, Winton, as well as 3.5yo ewes at $138.
A run of the best first cross ewes, 1.5yo made from $180-$195, and the third draft of lambs from $174-$184.