Prices for store lambs jumped at Swan Hill on the back of strong inquiry and a buoyant prime lamb market.
The sale attracted a yarding of around 18,000 head comprising a large number of cross bred store lambs.
As with the previous month’s sale, many lambs were hitting the market due to the continuing dry seasonnal conditions.
Buyers bid strongly and prices headed higher accordingly.
Processors attended along with restockers from Stawell, Bendigo, Rainbow, Horsham, Albury, the Western District and local areas.
BR&C auctioneer, John Sawyer, Swan Hill, said store lambs were a fair bit stronger than the sale a month ago – “probably $10 to $20 dearer”.
“The top end of the store lamb yarding had the advantage of an extra four weeks of growth and they were well prepared and presented,” Mr Sawyer said.
“What feed they did have had some guts to it,” he said.
Mr Sawyer said the Merino wether lambs were also well presented and sold “:pretty well”.
He said the many of the older Merino ewes were good buying, while the young ewes sold well.
A pen of 137 April/May 2018 drop Poll Dorset/Merino cross lambs, unshorn, topped the market at $148. These were sold account J & B Glenn, Koon Kool, Moulamein, NSW.
The next best of the Koon Kool lambs was a draft of 358 that sold for $141 and the thirds made $120 for a pen of 229.
Another consignment from the Woolmark, Tin Tin, Balranald, NSW, again attracted strong inquiry with the tops selling for at $147 for 117 Poll Dorset/Merino cross lambs.
Other lines from the same vendor included 196 at $140 while the lighter end saw 243 make $121 and 186 sell for $114.
Major vendor Warrawee Pastoral, Yal Yal, Kyalite, NSW, sold White Suffolk/Merino cross lambs to a top of $142 for 106. Yal Yal also sold 156 at $138 and lighter pens at $126 for 288 and $116 for 143.
Also in the cross bred store lambs was a consignment coming forward from Wyam Pastoral, Wyam, Mellool, NSW. The tops of these White Suffolk and Poll Dorset Merino cross lambs comprised 124 at $140 and the seconds of 156 at $138. The lighter Wyam lambs sold for $122 in two pens.
The Tony Hoare Family Trust forwarded White Suffolk/Merino cross lambs, selling to $146 with other lines making $139, $137 and $111.
In the Merino lamb section Ian Hodgson, Arundel, Kyalite, sold 191 April/May 2018 drop lambs, unshorn, to $120. GF, VS & R Chilvers also sold Merino lambs, May/June drop for $112.
Condoulpe Pastoral, Condoulpe, sold a pen of 394 Merino wether lambs, April/May drop for $132.
A large draft of Merino wether lambs came forward from Mungadal, Hay, NSW. The Pooginook Poll blood, April/May drop lambs sold in three lines for $75 for 425, $56 for 684 and $40 for 434.
Elders branch manager, Trevor Basset, Swan Hill, said the Mungadal wethers were bought to return to the paddock.
In the ewe section J Redfern, Rosebank, sold a pen of 302 Merino ewes, May/June 2017 drop, February shorn, for $206.
R & M Culross, Cloverlea, Moulamein, NSW, sold 176 Merino ewes, April/May 2017 drop, July shorn, for $206.
MG & JA Farley, Kerang, sold 345 Merino ewes, May/June 2017 drop, July shorn, for $172.
