EWE lambs peaked at $199 at an extremely solid Naracoorte first-cross ewe lamb sale last Thursday for the second half of the annual blue-ribbon first-cross sales.
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The yarding of 28,499 grossed more than $4.2 million - a remarkable increase from last year's result of nearly $3.9m from a larger yarding of 32,430 - and averaged $148.
With a number of high-quality lines offered, it was the vaccinated sheep which attracted the greatest premiums.
"It was a very good sale but one thing which stood out was people looking for vaccinations," Southern Australian Livestock general manager Laryn Gogel said.
"They were very selective of the quality of ewes - if ewes weren't vaccinated they were possibly $10-$12 behind."
Given the season and condition of the yarding, it was a "pretty good day out".
Topping the sale was a run of 231 from the SAL draft sold by Simon and Susie Pocock, Pocock Brothers, Lameroo. They were by Johnos Border Leicester sires and from Gum Hill blood ewes.
The Pococks - also the sale's biggest vendors - sold 2480 averaging $173, including runs of 267 and 300 at $194 each.
SAL, which kicked-off the sale, yarded a total of 9781 which averaged $147.
Other vendors in the SAL draft posting good results included McMahon Brothers, Lameroo, with 704 averaging $182. Their draft included the blue-ribbon winners for the best-presented pen - 160 Johnos and Gunallo-sired lambs at $196, and further runs of 163 and 170 at $188.
CJ&CF Pfitzner, Frances, sold 411 Deepwater-sired lambs averaging $173, including 202 at $188; Hayward Props, Lameroo, sold 115 at $182; and N&J Nutt, Keith, sold 95 at $178.
The Pinkerton Palm Hamlyn & Steen sale of 10,105 averaged $151.69, topping at $192 twice.
The sale's second-largest vendors FB Lock & Sons, Naracoorte, sold 2328 by Alderside Park sires at an average of $161.18, including 202 at $192 to Selim Enterprises and RN&NJ Sapiatzer.
The Lock draft also included 150 at $172 to NA&CE Skeer and 547 at $170, comprising 272 to Mullinger Park and 275 to South West Farmers.
The second $192 pen was sold by Cameron Jesse, Western Flat, for 116 bought by Tildana Pty Ltd.
Mr Jesse sold 330 by Morton and Paxton sires averaging $166.20.
The Elders yarding of 7077 resulted in a $145.33 average and top of $178 twice.
GC&JH Guy, Bordertown, sold 149 by Willow Park and Blue Hills sires at $178 to Yoho Pty Ltd, and Lenton Pty Ltd, Minlaton, sold 77 Brontannia- and Glencorrie-sired lambs at $178 to M Carter Livestock.
Landmark yarded 1536 which averaged $143.66, peaking at $171 for 100 by Morton and Inverbrackie sires, sold by HM&LJ Spinks & Sons, Murray Bridge, to NW&EE Teate, Naracoorte.
Spinks & Sons sold a total of 477 averaging $144.62, including 200 at $155 to Tallagiera Pastoral, Millicent.
* Full report in Stock Journal, November 28 issue, 2013.
