A SALEYARD record high price of $295 was set at the Lameroo off-shears sale today.
It was $3 higher than the previous record set in 2016.
The top pen was a line of 373 August-shorn, Lines Gum Hill-bloods from Galbraith Farms, Marama.
It was knocked down to Alan Tregoweth, Lucindale, who has been buying the Galbraith family’s ewes for close to 15 years.
Mr Tregoweth said he had been getting lambing percentages of 115 to 130 per cent with the ewes, which were mated to Border Leicester rams, as well as good returns from them.
“They’re just damn good mothers, they very rarely leave their lambs,” he said.
“I sold ewe lambs off the farm last year for $140 and sold lambs in the second week of September at Naracoorte for an average of $205 and top of $260.”
The blue-ribbon for the best presented pen was awarded to Richard Howard, Annerley Props, Geranium.
Judge Trevor James, Coolawang Border Leicesters, Mundulla, said he was looking for the ability to produce bigger lines, the shearing of the ewes and the evenness of the draft.
The line of 204 August-shorn, Moorundie Park-blds sold for $266.
The second-highest price of the sale went to DK&DM Farr, Pyap West, with 114 September-shorn Gunallo/Ridgway Advance-bld young ewes that sold for $274 to Thomas DeGaris & Clarkson.
Not far behind was 300 young ewes from RM&S Pocock, Lampata Poll Merinos, that sold for $273 to Elders Warracknabeal, Vic, and BD&MA Manuel, Mindarie, with 80 Kamora Netley Park-blds at $272.
The highest price for 5.5-year-old ewes was $168, for 247 from Galbraith Farms, while JD,BM&DJ Steer topped the 4.5yo section at $184 with a line of 76.
Ewe lambs topped at $153 for 285 Ridgway-blds from McNeil Bros, Kulkami.
Wether lambs sold to $130 for 234 from JD,BM&DJ Steer.