UNEXPECTED rain kept conditions soggy underfoot at the Yelta, Vic, sheep and lamb sale on Wednesday last week.
An estimated 50 millimetres to 60mm of patchy rain fell across the region in the 24 hours surrounding the sale, but rainfall did not extend very far north, with Broken Hill producers saying they received little to none.
With 95 per cent of harvest finished in the western Wimmera, Vic, Elders Mildura's Kelvin Fitzgerald said there were plenty of 'stubble buyers' keen to snap up lambs.
"The lamb job was very strong," he said.
"Wether lambs and ewe lambs sold very well."
Wether lambs made $51 to $70.
But young ewe prices slipped, with only a few pens offered and making $54 to $82, a drop of $62 on last month's sale.
The top-price ewes were sold by G Lawrence & Son, Nine Mile Station, with 334 Dohnes 1.5 years Hamilton Run blood, bought by Landmark at $82.
They also sold 190 Dohne wethers 1.5yo at $48.
Hotchin Props, Mount Sturt, sold 516 ewes 1.5yo East Bungaree blood at $76 to PPHS.
RJ&BJ Coombs, Regunyah, sold 155 1.5yo ewes Lines Gum Hill blood at $72 to Warracknabeal, Vic, and a further 344 2011-drops at $71 to Elders Ouyen, Vic.
They also sold 170 2.5yo wethers at $60.
DJ,VC&SD Parker, Boolkamena, sold 485 Woodoona blood 6.5yo at $44 to Ararat, Vic. A further 145 Woodoona blood 7.5yo ewes made $48 to the same buyer. They also sold 1.5yo wethers at $40.
Chowilla Props, Renmark, sold hogget ewes Kelvale blood at $72 and 143 Kelvale blood 6.5yo ewes at $41.
They also sold 800 woolly wether lambs at $51-$65.
RW Pearce, Sunnydale, sold 281 ewes 2.5yo Old Ashrose blood at $74 and 179 3.5yo at $58.
JR&AM Morgan, Outalpa, sold 232 Mutooroo blood 5.5yo ewes at $52 to Elders Ouyen and 384 6.5yo at $39 to Ararat.
AJ Doudle sold 300 ewes classed for age November shorn at $20.
Coolamara Pastoral, Rosewood, sold 550 shorn wether lambs 8-9 months Dalveen blood at $57-$70 - the top price for wether lambs.
* Full report in Stock Journal, December 12 issue, 2013.