Lamb prices increased about $20 per head at the Mt Pleasant market on Thursday when a surprise buyer pushed competition at the sale.
While the area's last market hit a $160 top for crossbred lambs, this fortnight's sale topped at $182.
Although prices were up, the sales yarding was down about 800 head on last fortnight, for a total offering of about 1200.
Nutrien Fawcett Livestock agent David Schultz said the lamb run was underpinned by a Strathalbyn producer who doesn't normally frequent the sale.
"It was someone that came out of the blue and made a big difference," he said.
"He bought right from the heavy lambs down to the better small lambs.
"He was met with competition from our regular bidding gallery as well."
Topping the sale was a line of crossbreds from DW Kubenk & Sons, Tepko, with 28 lambs knocked down for $182 per head.
L Schutz, Tailem Bend, sold five crossbred lambs for $172, while N & C Semmler Nominees, Flaxman Valley, sold 22 for $170 and FC Baker, Murray Bridge, fetched the same price for a pen of four.
A single crossbred lamb from P Rabbitt, Cherryville, went under the hammer for $156.
Pens of 20 and five crossbred lambs offered by Argent & Johnson, Eden Valley, and FC Baker respectively, were knocked down for $152.
In the hogget run, EM Olson, Geranium, offered three Merinos which made $64, with an offering of 17 Merinos from DJ Cawthorne, Sandalwood, also topping the run.
FC Baker's single crossbred hogget made $60, while one Dorper from J Sawers, Petwood, was sold for $52.
A single Suffolk from J & K Dornin, Birdwood, reached $50 as well as a single crossbred from DW Kubenk & Sons.
EM Olson also topped the mutton run with a pen of eight Merinos knocked down at $84/head.
A pen of nine Merinos from Nita Kennett, Murray Bridge, made $68, while a total of 22 Merinos from Harrogate Heights, Harrogate, were sold for $64.
EM Olson and M Amos, Tungkillo, both made $58/head for pens of 21 and two Merinos respectively.
In the cattle section, the market topped price per head at $1680 for one 764kg steer from AM Lines, Birdwood, which made 220c/kg.
One 613kg steer from from Kay Kowald, Tailem Bend, made $1397, while another single 619kg steer from Kevradale, Tailem Bend, made $1393.
Topping the market for c/kg was an offering from CJ & RL Van Dissell, Springton, of a single steer which made 264c/kg at 328kg.
P Noack Welding, St Kitts, made 260c/kg for a pen of four 289kg steers and a pen of two 319kg steers.
A pen from Kevradale was knocked down at 256c/kg for two 512kg steers.
One 688kg heifer from DW Kubenk & Sons made $1459.
A single 186kg heifer from an unknown vendor made 273c/kg.
Three single pens of 370kg, 384kg and 409kg heifers from J&J Shearer, Eden Valley, all made 250c/kg.
A single Kevradale heifer weighing 371kg went under the hammer for 242c/kg.
Cows reached 215c/kg for a single 754kg cow from CJ & RL Van Dissell and a single 705kg cow from SJ&RJ Dohnt, Eden Valley.
J Koch, Williamstown, took home 250c/kg for a 293kg bull, while a single 933kg bull from K Shepherd, Rockleigh, made $2127.
Mr Schultz said the next Mount Pleasant sale would be held on April 11.
"We're expecting similar number for cattle but sheep might drop back a bit," he said.
Katie Jackson
Journalist at Stock Journal. Born into a journo family in the state's South East, Katie made the move to the big smoke to join the team in early 2022 after seven years spent at various mastheads in the regions.
Journalist at Stock Journal. Born into a journo family in the state's South East, Katie made the move to the big smoke to join the team in early 2022 after seven years spent at various mastheads in the regions.
