The annual Tasmanian lamb and ewe sales went off with a bang last week with lambs topping $200 and ewes $390.
Richards Livestock principal, Ian Richards, said the strength of the market came from a combination on abundant feed, strong prime markets and a shortage of prime lambs.
He said the beginning of the store lamb sales in Tasmania was "stronger than expected".
A penning of 1489 Cashmore/Oaklea-blood composite wether lambs sold account Greenhythe Pastoral, Hillwood, averaged $150 a head.
The August-drop, unshorn offering had an average liveweight of 35.17 kilograms.
All lambs were bought to remain in Tasmania with principal buyer a repeat client, GF & DM Marshall, Sheffield, who bought 1188 lambs.
Mr Richards said the sale average was around $40 up on the previous year's sale.
Weymouth Farm Pastoral, Pipers River, offered 2362 September/October-drop lambs by White Suffolk rams out of Border-Leicester-Merino ewes, that sold to $201.
Effingham Pty Ltd, sold 2540 lambs by Poll Dorset and Romney rams out of first-cross ewes selling to $201.
Greg Harris, Elders, said the lambs were the "best they have been and the best sale they have had".
He said the lambs weighing 45-50kg made from $175 to $180 and the next category made $168 to $172.
Across the total of 4902 lambs, the average liveweight was 36.5kg and average price $165.
Weedington sold through AuctionsPlus, two lines of 145 Border Leicester-Merino-cross ewes that were 2020 drop and sold for $390.
Best of the Corriedale ewes was a pen of 100, 1.5 years, sold account Kuranda for $340, as well as 95 at $305.
A line of 200 first-cross lambs by White Suffolk rams out of Corriedale ewes, July/August-drop, offered account Leamington, Pawtella, sold for $305. A second pen of 220 made $300.
Mainland processors purchased suitable lambs while Elders Bendigo was a major buyer.
