Llanthro dispersal ewes to $242

The nearly 10,000-strong yarding of fine-medium wool Merino ewes and crossbreds, plus wether and ewe lambs, represented one of the largest on-property sheep dispersals in southern Australia in recent years.

The sheep were offered in runs of 100 but most buyers in the large crowd took entire lines.

In the breakdown, the 9756 head averaged $112.

All of the well-bred sheep were eligible to enter SA after abattoir surveillance testing of the flock for OJD and many found their way across the border, including all the 1.5-4.5yo October-shorn first-cross ewes.

Thomas DeGaris & Clarkson account LP&JM Wilson bought 382 1.5yo with six rams included.

Miller, Whan & John account Cooper took 274 2.5yo with the 378 3.5yo and 177 4.5yo bought by Elders Strathalbyn.

The first 594 of the 924 1.5yo December-shorn Merino ewes made $120 to Southern Australian Livestock, Naracoorte.

The remaining 322 in the line were bought by another SAL Naracoorte client at $130.

Merino ewes joined to Border Leicesters sold between $96 for 5.5yo and $130 for 2.5yo.

The Border Leicester-Merino ewe lambs made $112.

Midfield Meat provided slaughter competition on Merino wether hoggets at $83, but the top 227 were bought by Pinkerton Palm Hamlyn & Steen at $92.

Buyers were spread from Ballarat and Bendigo in Vic to the Fleurieu Peninsula.

Selling agent Thomas DeGaris & Clarkson Penola's Rob Handbury said the first-cross ewes joined to terminal sires, and Merinos joined to Border Leicesters from December 1 sold well.

"All of the joined ewes sold extremely well with people banking on getting a lamb out of them by April-May, but the unjoined sheep were harder to sell," he said. "The unjoined sheep were good value for the buyer but fair for the seller."

Mr Handbury said there had been buoyancy in the sheep market since it had rained.

"Lamb prices are inching up and mutton prices are following," he said.