Merino sheep sold well, but the sale at Wycheproof on Friday didn't have the 'sting' of previous sales.
The centre's monthly store sale attracted a small yarding of nearly 4000 predominantly first-cross and Merino sheep.
The theme was similar to the previous sale at Wycheproof a month ago when prices were steady but bidding was subdued.
Elders branch manager Kevin Thompson, Wycheproof, said little things in the industry had changed in recent times.
"The one percenters have changed the mindset of people in the past four or five weeks," Mr Thompson said.
"The wool price has come back and the lamb and mutton job has come back a bit, but not a lot.
"We've got an ironic set up with the weather.
"It's drying out quick in the Riverina and along the Murray but it's too wet down south to get their teeth into sheep, it's a tad early."
He said it wasn't a big yarding and the numbers attracted only the "hardcore".
The offering was still in demand although the Border Leicester/Merino-cross ewes were "a little cheaper" than most recent rates, he said.
"I thought the Merino sheep sold pretty well with ewes selling up to expectations," he said.
"Our vendors were happy but it didn't have the sting of sales earlier in the year."
Mr Thompson said the smaller yarding was indicative of the reduced sheep population throughout the region.
He said the lack of numbers had been having a positive impact on prices in recent months.
Bidding came from Bendigo, Horsham, Ballarat, Stawell, Birchip, Boort, Cohuna, Avoca, Hamilton, Swan Hill, Hay, NSW, and limited local interest.
Jamie Ison, Thalia, sold a quality line of 367 Merino ewes, June 2017-drop, Wyuna-blood, with nearly eight months wool, for $262 to DMD, Horsham.
The same vendor followed up with a pen of 285 June/July 2018-drop Merino ewes, February-shorn, that made $210.
Oakvale Nominees, Oakvale, sold 117 Merino ewes, April/May 2018-drop, August-shorn, Tamaleuca-blood, that sold for $225 to Elders Culgoa.
VA & TM Toose consigned a pen of 131 Merino ewes, May 2018-drop, August-shorn, Tamaleuca and Alma-blood that sold to $222 to Elders Bendigo.
A draft of Merino ewes by Tarrangower Estates, Barham, NSW, were being sold because of a lack of feed.
The tops of 195 April/May 2018-drop, July-shorn, Tamaleuca-blood, sold to Landmark Birchip for $196.
The second draft of 107 went to Rodwells Boort for $195.
Sterling Park, Morton Plains, sold 150 Merino ewes, July 2018-drop, March-shorn, Cranthorne-blood, for $202 to Landmark Ballarat.
Trealla Farms, Narraport, sold 155 Merino ewes, 2016-drop, August-shorn, that made $190 to Elders Avoca, while Elders Birchip paid $192 for 144 Merino ewes, 2017-drop, April-shorn, sold by D & K Barker, Nullawil.
The first pen of the sale was a draft of 269 Border Leicester/Merino-cross ewes, August 2018-drop, June-shorn, that sold by DA White for $225 to Elders Bendigo.
Mt View offered a line of 116 first-cross ewes, July 2018-drop, February-shorn, that sold to Elders Hay, NSW, for $250.
A second line of 150 same description, sold for $240 the same way.
A big run of Merino wethers, June/July 2018-drop, April-shorn, Hyfield-blood, came forward by Woodlands Pty Ltd.
The 620 tops sold to Elders Bendigo for $134 and the seconds of 230 went the same way for $126.
Of the older ewes, the highlight was a draft from Narreglen, Nareewillock, that comprised 248 Merino ewes, 5.5-years-old, August-shorn, Gulthul-blood, that sold for $148 to Elders Avoca.
A second line of 321, same description, made $128 going to Hamilton.
