Young breeding ewes hit $326 at the Nhill and Kaniva District annual ewe and wether lamb sale on Friday.
The quality and condition of the 7100 head yarding helped buoy results by $20/head, according to Andrew McIllree of DMD Agents, who said local breeders "went hard" to secure lots.
"We didn't know what (prices) to expect so we were flying by the seat of our pants," he said.
"It was a good crowd and the best offering I have seen at the Nhill yards in a long time. Stock presented well and the crowd was happy to go hard."
Ewe hoggets secured the top price of $326 to Treetop Estate, Nhill for the first pen of 150 Merino ewe hoggets, Kamora Netley Park blood, or 520c/kg, who also offered a second draft of 150, which sold to $312 a head.
Across the entire sale offering, ewes sold to a top of $300/hd, and averaged $286, while lambs hit $154/hd, av $147/hd, while wethers peaked at $149/hd, av $145.
A major line offered by CA & JM Smith, Nhill, sold 219 future breeder Merino ewe hoggets, August shorn, Gunallo blood to $310/hd, or 593c/kg, with the second draft of 84 hitting $260/hd, or 570c/kg.
The Smith family also offered 450 store wether lambs across two pens, for a draft av of $151, or 449c/kg.
Local producers, Nariel Pty Ltd, offered 578 unjoined 2.5 year-old Merino ewes, August shorn, Glenlea Park blood, which fetched $290-$300/hd, for a draft av of 470c/kg.
AM & RA Clark, Nhill, sold 446 March-April drop Merino lambs, August shorn, Hilton Health blood, fetched a top price of $152/hd, or 406.4c/kg, with the second draft selling to $142/hg, or 451c/kg.
Overall the sale grossed $1.54 million, and was for the first time interfaced with AuctionsPlus, which recorded 69 registered bidders logged in from throughout NSW, Victoria and South Australia for a total 51 bids.
The online option enabled buyers from across the borders to compete, with un-joined ewes bound for Dubbo, NSW (av $171/hd) and Naracoorte, SA, ($125/hd), as well as two pens of wether lambs to av $144 to Loxton, SA.
An additional 15 guests also logged in to view the sale with the catalogue recording 2342 views.
DMD livestock agent Brock Quick said buyers were predominantly local producers wanting to replace lambs sold earlier in the year.
"The wether lambs are just starting to freshen up after a tough autumn and winter, were presented well and sold exceptionally," Mr Quick said.
"It was a good result for our vendors and purchasers who got good stock."
Annabelle Cleeland
Annabelle Cleeland is a Stock & Land journalist. She has worked at Australian Community Media for more than a decade serving in a number of roles including editor, senior journalist and national sheep & wool writer. She runs a fine Merino wool property with her young family in North-East Victoria.
Annabelle Cleeland is a Stock & Land journalist. She has worked at Australian Community Media for more than a decade serving in a number of roles including editor, senior journalist and national sheep & wool writer. She runs a fine Merino wool property with her young family in North-East Victoria.
