ALL roads led to Cooranga at Lucindale last Friday, with one of the largest crowds at the annual feature Merino-Border Leicester lamb sale in its 22-year history.
Those present knew the breeding and finishing reputation of the first-cross lambs, which despite a shower on the eve of the sale, looked particularly good.
This, along with a good spring, caused the average prices for the state's largest on-property lamb sale to jump more than $20 on last year.
The sale grossed $1.69 million for 14,139 lambs - ewe lambs averaging $143 and wether lambs $93.85.
In 2012 a total of 7344 ewe lambs topped at $158 averaging $120.79 and 6929 wether lambs sold to $97.50 averaging $63.81.
Friday's top draft of 571 ewe lambs offered by Ian James, Jim James and Wendy James-Ross and their families were divided three ways.
The top price of $186 on 210 was paid by Pinkerton Palm Hamlyn & Steen's Richard Harvie on behalf of David Brown, Padthaway.
Dismal Swamp, Mount Gambier, took a run of 250 at $166, and 111 sold at $162 to Elders Naracorte account CL Munro.
The yarding was again sold in unrestricted runs but this year the ewe lambs were sold in smaller runs than normal, to SA and Vic buyers.
The 1088 seconds of the ewe lambs went to four different buyers. Landmark Timboon account Gristede paid to $164 for the first 400; South West Farmers, Mount Richmond, Vic, account Meyer bought 450 at $164; Chay & Merrett Millicent account Staude snapped-up 120 at $158; and CL Munro secured 118 at $156.
A run of 135 Border Leicester ewe lambs made $94.
Demand for wethers easily exceeded supply, and some buyers walked away empty handed.
Thomas Foods International, Murray Bridge, secured 2904, with buyer Richard Winckel successful on the tops, seconds and thirds of the wether lambs. The 638 tops at 57 kilograms made $121, while the 923 seconds at 51.5kg fetched $115.
Geoff Wellington bought 1555 lambs for the Australian Lamb Company, Colac, Vic, in the 42kg to 47kg range to $87 to put on feed.
Coola Station, Kongorong, bought 831 wether lambs at 43.5kg at $86.50 and PPHS Naracoorte a/c Angus Creek, Keith, secured 741 unweighed lambs at $78.
* Full report in Stock Journal, December 5 issue, 2013.
