West Wimmera sheep breeders celebrated their first sale in a brand new set of a privately-built saleyards with an outstanding prices at the annual Edenhope first-cross ewe sale on Thursday.
The new saleyards, built by Ruralco for its Rodwells clientele, took the market by storm selling the opening pen of young ewes, aged 1.5 years, to an inspiring $229 a head while the first pen of ewe lambs offered made $221.
Overall the penning of 9700 head produced a good number of highlights, none less than the sale of a dozen lots of 14-drop ewes that were sold at varying prices above $200 a head while three yards of ewe lambs made $200 a head or better.
Repeat buyers from the Warrnambool, Hamilton, Casterton and Mt Gambier districts competed strongly with local and Horsham district prime lamb breeders while Mallee, Wimmera and lower southwest restockers were keen for younger ewe lambs that wont be mated for another 12 months.