A strong market trend highlighted the finish of the 2019 store sheep sales at Swan Hill last week.
Agents, BR&C, Elders and Landmark, yarded around 15,000 sheep that came forward in good condition.
BR&C auctioneer John Sawyer, said there was a "pretty handy" yarding of crossbred lambs that sold to strong competition making from $130 to $160. The lighter and later drop lambs made $100 to $130.
He said most Merino wether lambs sold from $130 to $150 with lighter types $120 to $130.
"Everyone wanted a few. Locals were strong with a few stubble paddocks starting to appear," Mr Sawyer said.
Young ewes made to $236, 2.5 year old, made to $240 and a pen of March shorn ewes, 3.5 years, made $268.
Mr Sawyer said locals were looking at ewes rather than lambs and the market was $20 dearer than the previous sale.
Jason Pickering, Landmark, said the best of the young ewes sold "very well" and that went right through the ewe job.
"The wether lamb job was very strong with best to $150. If you wanted something with anything going for it you needed at least $120 and more likely $130," Mr Pickering said.
Top priced ewes was a line of 3.5 year old Merinos, March shorn, sold account V&T Foott, Pental Island, that sold for $268. The same vendor had 233 ewes, 2014/15, same shearing that sold for $240.
In a flock dispersal of the Morton Family Trust, Moulamein, NSW, 146 October shorn ewes, 2018-drop, sold for $207. The 2017-drop portion made $178 while the 2016 made $148 and the 14/15 drop ewes $130.
Carinya Ag Enterprises, Swan Hill, sold 134 Merino ewes, May/June 2017 drop, October shorn,that made $240 while a draft of the same vendors 2014 drop ewes made $182.
CM, RJ & SM White, Towaninny, forwaded 255 Merino ewes, May/June 18 drop, September shorn, that made $236 to Landmark Ballarat.
A pen of 208 Merino ewes, May/June 18 drop, September shorn, sold account J Ellis, Mystic Park, for $218.
June/July 16 drop ewes sold account Martin Brothers, Nandaly, sold for $210 and the 14/15 drop ewes, also September shorn, made $186.
Glenmadale Pastoral, Wycheproof, sold 163 April/May 17 and 18 drop, August shorn, that went for $194 to Landmark Ballarat. A second line of 190, March/April 17 drop ewes, August shorn, went for $180.
The York Trust forwarded a consignment that included a pen of 207 Merino ewes, June/July 18 drop, April shorn, that sold for $174. A pen of 2016 drop ewes topped at $175 for a pen of 206, while 235, 16 drop ewes, made $170.
Keri Keri Pastoral, Moulamein, NSW, sold older ewes with 455 June/July 14 drop, bare shorn, going in two lots for $155.
I Polkinghorne, Boondilla, Moulamein, NSW, forwarded mixed sex 2019 drop Merino lambs with 150 ewes selling to $176 and the wethers topped at $135 for a pen of 143.
J&B Glenn, Koon Kool, Moulamein, NSW, sold 2019 drop Merino ewe lambs, unshorn, to a top of $167 for a pen of 207. A second line of 193 sold for $130.
In the crossbred lambs a draft came forward from L & K McDonald, Umera, Murrabit, White Suffolk/Merino-cross, June/July drop, that sold up to $160.
RL Grant, Barham, sold WS/Merino-cross lambs to $148, D McDonald, Blanes, Murrabit, sold to $147, Mainie Family Trust, Balranald, NSW, sold 149 to $146 and DC & TI O'Halloran, Waldaira, Balranald, NSW, sold WS/Merino cross lambs to a top of $138.
Other Merino wether lambs included 370 sold account Northdale, Moulamein, NSW, selling for $150; DD Kaylock and Co, Moulamein, NSW, topped at $143; 247 sold account Wyam Pastoral, Mellool, Mellool, that made $140; Orange Grove, Balranald, NSW, sold 186 for $139; R Ellis, Pental Island, sold 134 for $136; M&A Headon, Balranald, NSW, sold to $136; and Gonn Pastoral, Murrabit, sold 199 to $131.