Blue ribbon sale hope

The forecasted 21,000 1.5-year-old - and older - breeding ewes and 30,000 ewe lambs to be offered today and next Thursday are expected to meet steady but solid demand.

Elders Naracoorte's Tom Dennis said the Bendigo sale last week was "pretty positive" and he was hopeful that was a sign of things to come.

"I think it'll be very similar to prices last year (for the 1.5yo ewes)," he said.

"Nothing too extreme, a lot in that $150-$180 bracket, and there might be a few make their $200."

He said the sheep would present well - "above average" - having benefited from the good, early start.

"There's the feeling that some graziers have been burnt in the past by under-buying in a tight year, so I think there might be the attitude for buyers to (cautiously) buy their usual numbers," Mr Dennis said.

He said the drawcard for the South East ewes was their medium to large frame, clean points and that they were out of "good SA Merino ewes by elite Border Leicester rams".

Last year, 1.5yo first-cross ewes topped at $237 - up $23 on 2012 - for Peter and Megan Ireland, Deepwater Trust, Lochaber, who sold 209 ewes.

The 21,800 1.5yo and breeding ewes grossed $3.7 million and averaged just under $187.

Ewe lambs topped at $199 for 231 from Simon and Susie Pocock, Pocock Brothers, Lameroo, while a total of 28,499 ewe lambs averaged $148 and grossed $4.2m.

Southern Australian Livestock's Laryn Gogel said many vendors and buyers were probably a bit nervous about the whole season, but realised a lot of the regular supporters would be there.

"We certainly know we will see a good buying gallery, we're just not sure how much they will buy," he said.

"I think the 1.5yo ewes will still get to $200, and lambs will go well.

"Restockers will jump in on the bottom end of those lambs."

* Full report in Stock Journal, November 13, 2014 issue.