Prices for first-cross ewes topped at $370 a head as lamb breeders sought quality ewes at Wycheproof.
Elders yarded around 14,000 sheep and competition was strong on all lines of Border Leicester-Merino cross ewes and values lifted $30 a head on the previous sale.
Elders branch manager Kevin Thompson said Merino sheep also attracted good interest "without the increase" on recent sales.
Buyers came from Ballarat, Ararat, Hamilton, Bendigo, Horsham, Kaniva, Nhill, Kyneton, Warracknabeal, Stawell, St Arnaud, Avoca, Cohuna, Boort, Birchip and Charlton. Interstate buyers included orders from Hay and Finley in NSW and Millicent in SA.
Best quality, well presented first cross ewes 1.5-years-old and first cross ewe lambs, early 2019-drop, were keenly sought after by western district and central Victorian graziers in particular.
Mr Thompson said buyers paid up to $370 for 2018-drop ewes and $325 for 2019-drop lambs.
He said the top prices were the highest ever recorded at Wycheproof for first-cross ewes, that age and not mated.
Other lines of cross bred ewes made from $265 to $364 while the lamb portion made $220 to $308 - "subject to age and quality", he said.
The Merino offering started with a line of 175, two-years-old, April-shorn, with 190 Poll Dorset lambs to 10 weeks of age at foot. Spirited competition saw a top of $360 reached.
Other lines of 1.5 year old Merino ewes sold from $190 to $275 while older breeding ewes made to $230, with most at $174 to $200 depending on frame and shearing.
Merino wether lambs made to $138 with most selling for $90 to $120. Cross bred store lambs sold between $124 and $138.
Top pen was a line of 230 first-cross ewes, 1.5-years-old, October-shorn, not station mated, sold account RE, SF & AJ Coatsworth, Talgarno, that sold for $370 to a TB White and Sons, Ballarat, account.
Nedna, Willangie, sold 186 first-cross ewes, 1.5-years-old, October-shorn, NSM, for $364, to Elders Ararat.
A line of 320 first-cross ewes, one-year-old, October-shorn, NSM, sold account Bushy Lodge, Charlton, for $322 to Nutrien Ag, Ballarat.
Pollington Farms, Nullawil, forwarded a pen of 70 first-cross ewes, one-year-old that sold to Rodwells Horsham for $294.
First-cross ewe lambs account AD & RL Gawne, Boort, topped the section at $325 for a line of 206, October-shorn, NSM, bought by Nutrien Ballarat.
Next best was a line from Feeny Brothers, Gooroc, of 293 April/May 2019-drop, October-shorn, that made $308 going to TBW, Ballarat.
PM & AL O'Shannessy, Swanwater, sold 310 first-cross lambs, May 2019-drop, October-shorn, for $280 to Westech Ag Kyle Agencies.
Chay and Merrett Agencies, Millicent, SA, paid $282 for a line of 231 first-cross ewe lambs sold account RG & MJ Medlyn, Woodlawn, Carapooee.
Other lines of FX ewe lambs were: PJ & MS McRae, 153, $254 to Nutrien Ag, Ballarat; Watershed West, Watchem, 156, $245 to Elders Wycheproof; NR Weir, The Willows, 154, $240 to Elders Hamilton.
The top pen of Merino ewes was a draft of 175 from JP & EM Casey, Birchip, two-years-old, April-shorn with 190 Poll Dorset lambs to 10 weeks at foot. They were bought by Elders Bendigo.
Tamaleuca, Ouyen, forwarded 196 May 18-drop Merino ewes, October-shorn, NSM, that sold for $275 to Pinkerton Palm Hamlyn & Steen, Naracoorte, SA.
The same buyer paid $238 for 393 August/September 2018-drop Merino ewes, October-shorn, sold account PG & CE Sewell.
A pen of 390 Merino ewes, 2015-drop, account T & GA Simpson, Wingallok, September-shorn, NSM, sold for $230 to Nutrien Ag, Ballarat, and a second line of 2014-drop ewes, went the same way for $216.
Merino wether lambs sold to $138 for a line of 560, May 2019-drop, October-shorn, sold account Gulthul Pty Ltd, Euston, NSW. Buyer was Elders Warracknabeal.
Simpsons sold 280, May 2019-drop, September-shorn, for $116 to Elders Wycheproof, while D & F Williams, Coolalinga, sold 332, August 2019-drop wethers, unshorn, for $110.
A line of 344 White Suffolk-cross lambs, July 2019-drop, October-shorn, sold account Gould and Son, Mysia, for $138. They went to Elders Warracknabeal.
