The increasingly tight season was evident at the final Murray Bridge off-shears sale on Monday, with limited interest from the South East, which had underpinned the previous auctions.
There were close to 7000 ewes and lambs yarded at the sale.
Elders Murray Bridge livestock manager Justin Robertson said while the top-end of the ewes sold fairly well, the price fell away pretty quickly on other types.
“It’s a sign of the season,” he said.
Landmark Murray Bridge agent Kev Keller said wether lambs sold reasonably well, especially on the better types.
“Lighter wether lambs did struggle a bit,” he said.
“Better ewes sold reasonably well, but as condition lightened off, so did the price. With the way the season has finished up, we’ve got to be reasonably happy with the prices.”
Monarto South farmer Robert Thiele topped the woolly wether lamb section with 112 Glenlea Park-bloods that made $109, while AH&SA Dunn, Milang, sold 30 Lampata-blds at $103.
Young ewes were a struggle, with some lines making less than $100.
The top price for young ewes was $206, for 145 Benefield-blds from BL&CL Burbidge, Ettrick.
Looking at breeding ewes, 2.5-year-olds sold to a $160 for 52 Mt Alma Dohne-blds from PJ Royal, Milendella, 3.5yo ewes to $150 for 126 Moorundie Park-blds from Forest Lane Farms, Sedan, 4.5yo ewes to $170 for 99 Kamora Netley Park-blds from DJ Fromm & Son, Walker Flat, and 79 Barton Hill-blds from AW Horstmann, Milendalla, and 5.5yo ewes to $116 for 154 Ridgway-blds from SN&CA Paech, Tepko.
Brinkley farmer Trevor Kennett had a dispersal, with all of his hoggets sold, along with half of his breeding ewes.
Mr Kennett sold 118 Kamora Park-bld young ewes for $202 and 155 April/May 2015/2016-drops for the same price.
