Lambs sold to $165 a head at Edenhope's annual first-cross wether lamb sale last Thursday, where prices reflected strong store sale price trends.
Rodwells agents yarded 3600 locally-bred lambs for the feature auction.
Limited killable heavy lambs contributed to tightened supply with many suitable lambs sold in recent weeks and months due to the buoyant prices and promising seasonal conditions.
The sale attracted a $143-a-head average, $10 higher than last year's figure.
Rodwells Edenhope branch manager David Hanel said smaller lambs were also keenly sought-after, with only one pen selling below $120.
"We had our usual small crowd of enthusiastic buyers from Wimmera and south-west districts looking for shorn lambs to put on feed or stubbles," Mr Hanel said.
The dearest pen of the sale was for a lot of lambs from WD, RG & NW Robinson, Edenhope which made $165 a head.
The same vendors yarded 983 lambs in the sale, receiving an average of $147.
Strong prices for locally-bred lambs at Edenhope sale
Other representative lines included WH Kealy & Sons, Edenhope, who sold 138 lambs to a top of $152.
Account Westwood, Edenhope, sold 294 lambs to a top of $149 and 247 lambs to $148.
JS & EM Staude, Pigeon Ponds, sold a draft of 200 lambs to a top of $146, while EF & HL Yates, Edenhope, sold 92 lambs to $146.
Account Longlands, Harrow, sold 88 lambs to a top of $146, and RT & SJ McClure, Harrow, sold 282 to $142.
Meanwhile, TJ & SJ Futerieal, Edenhope, sold 147 lambs to $142.
Seasonal conditions aid sale result
Mr Hanel said the May/June-drop lambs presented "exceptionally well".
"The season has hung on probably two weeks later this year," Mr Hanel said.
"We possibly didn't see a lot of sunshine on the lambs we usually would but the feed has been really good."
He said processor activity was limited due to suitable lambs being absent from the sale.
"However, the price restockers were prepared to pay was generally in excess of meat value which is due to the fact there are no shorn lambs of any quantity available at present," Mr Hanel said.
"Prices were indicative of the store sales this year across Australia which seem to be $10-to -$15 higher than the same time 12 months ago."
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Bryce Eishold
Bryce is a senior journalist with Australian Community Media's Stock & Land where he reports on all aspects of agriculture. Bryce is also the president of the Rural Press Club of Victoria. Email Bryce at bryce.eishold@stockandland.com.au.
Bryce is a senior journalist with Australian Community Media's Stock & Land where he reports on all aspects of agriculture. Bryce is also the president of the Rural Press Club of Victoria. Email Bryce at bryce.eishold@stockandland.com.au.
