BEST 1.5-year-old ewes were in strong demand and sold to $196 at Friday's Lameroo off-shears sale.
Subscribe now for unlimited access to all our agricultural news
across the nation
or signup to continue reading
Pens of 2.5yo and 3.5yo ewes also sold under keen demand, but breeding ewe prices ranged from a disappointing $60 to $90 - barely more than meat value.
"Overall, it was a pleasing result but there is no escaping from the fact that there were some very cheap sheep sold," Landmark Lameroo manager Steve Davidson said.
Elders Lameroo manager Pat Larsson said the usual strong South East demand was down on previous sales and this obviously contributed to the lower-than-expected prices for some categories.
"We were pleased to see the strong return of buying from Ouyen, Vic, with the Elders agent taking at least 1500 head," he said.
Ridgway blood ewes in a line of 120 yarded by NF&JA Loechel started proceedings, with Landmark auctioneer Curly Golding knocking them down at $140 to Elders Naracoorte for JW Green & Son.
The eighth pen offered featured for the $196 top price, John and Bridget Steer receiving this for their 220 Lines Gum Hill bloods from Elders Roseworthy for John and Victoria Day.
The ewes will be mated to White Suffolks from the Fisher family's Ashmore stud in their large-scale prime lamb operation at Boundrina, Reeve's Plains.
Second-top price for 1.5yo ewes was $193 on 381 Lines Gum Hill blood ewes offered by Bruce and Robert Pocock, Lampata, Lameroo, and bought by Kevin and Brian Pfeiffer, Parrakie, who also use White Suffolk rams - from Aylesbury Farm and Wingamin studs - to produce their prime lambs.
The Zadow family received $186 a head for 245 ewes of Kamora blood, while Galbraith Farms sold 200 Lines Gum Hill bloods at $180 to Elders Lucindale.
A bargain buy was the $170 paid on big-frame Ridgway Advance blood ewes penned by David Farr, which went to the Day family.
They also paid $160 on 168 ewes of the same bloodline presented by Glen Farr.
McNiel Bros received $155 from Southern Australian Livestock, Naracoorte, on their 171 Ridgway blood ewes.
Cash Pastoral presented 228 ewes bred at Streaky Bay and these sold at $166.
The same price was paid for the winners of the best-presented pen award.
These were June/July-drop ewes of Lines Gum Hill blood bred by the Smart family, Wirrabara, and sold by Richard and Penny Howard, Annerley Partners.
The Day family was again the successful bidder.
In the 2.5yo pens, top price of $127 was paid by Peter Hand, Lameroo, for 239 of Panlatinga blood offered by Gary Flohr.
The same seller-buyer combination took the $128 top-price of honours for 3.5yo ewes.
It was a disappointing result for older ewes, many of which sold at just above meat values, the $90 top-price going to GT Pocock & Son.
* Full report in Stock Journal, October 17 issue, 2013.
