Top start to Naracoorte first-cross sale

General consensus among agents and saleyard regulars alike at the Thursday sale was for most better ewes to sell between $180 and $190, with the odd top pens making more than $200.

The sale got off to a cracking start when the first pen made $228, and following pens continued to fire, with the sale ultimately topping at $256 - the best price since 2011.

The overall result smashed predictions: 19,046 1.5-year-old and breeding ewes grossed $3,954,084 and achieved an average of $207.61.

Best ewes made $210 to $235, and secondary lines from $175 -$200.

All figures represented the best sale since 2011's record-breaking fixture, where ewes made a saleyard record of $310, grossed more than $5 million and averaged $251.

It was an outstanding endorsement for the sheep job, particularly given the dry season and predicted long summer ahead.

"We felt it was $30 in front of where we estimated the result would be," said Elders Naracoorte livestock manager Tom Dennis.

"The quality of the yarding was exceptional, and we had some volume buyers that kept a floor in the job, with six guys on every pen; it strengthened through the sale too."

He said the overall average showed there was strength through the entire sale which could also indicate there were not enough sheep to satisfy demand.

"I'd say a number of people went home (empty handed) and will come back today to try and buy mateable ewe lambs," Mr Dennis said.

* Full report in Stock Journal, November 20, 2014 issue.