Edenhope ewes to $203

Offering some 11,000 head of southwest-district bred sheep, 13-drop young ewes mostly made $165-$196 a head before topping at $203 for a small pen of one-year-olds while sales of 2014-drop ewe lambs saw joinable lots make from $130 to a top at $182 a head, and restocker drafts, $95-$120.

A large attendance of repeat buyer support underpinned the sale from the Western District, the lower South-east of South Australia, the Mallee and local West Wimmera districts while an order from Yea trucked sheep to the northeast of Victoria.

David Hanel, Rodwells, said prices were helped along by the fact that all sheep were mulesed and Gudair vaccinated.

And some lots were also presented offering vendor biosecurity accreditations which provided access into South Australia.

Mr Hanel said the yarding's good bloom and size for age was attributed to "feed" quality which arose when the spring season closed-off quickly.

Prior to the sale Mr Hanel acknowledged the passing of two district stalwarts - stock agent Kevin Forster and grazier John Warner - both of whom were great supporters of the Edenhope livestock scene.

The market top price of $203 awas achieved for a small pen of 68 one-year-old ewes, August/September-drop. These were offered by RT &SJ McClure while JS&EM Staude and MR & JY Hancock each sold pens of 1.5yo ewes at $196.

DT&BJ Hill and KW&SM Colliver each sold pens of 1.5yo ewes at $192 as sales of 13-drop averaged $179.90 a head.

Lines of better grown 14-drop ewe lambs were also fiercely contested at rates above expectation.

P&L Skinner, Ozenkadnook sold a pen of 200 May/June-drop and October shorn at $182 to Elders Hamilton while Landmark Warrnambool bid $180 to secure a line of 309 May/June-drop offered by the West family, Westwood.

McKenzie and Deardon sold an April/May-drop and August-shorn pen at $178 a head while TW&JM Colliver sold their lead draft pen of 231 at $168.

Over the day ewe lamb sales averaged $124, as a strong component of second-draft pens made $120-$150 a head while restocker pens made $95-$115.