Lamb record set at Naracoorte

This tops the previous state record for heavy lambs of $336 set at the SA Livestock Exchange, Dublin, late last month.

The pen of 24 first-cross wethers was offered by Coolawang Pastoral, Mundulla, and bought by JBS.

They weighed an average 92 kilograms liveweight, with an estimated dressweight in excess of 40kg.

Coolawang's Lachie James said the wethers were the "leftovers" and had been run in a feedlot on a ration of barley, lupins and straw.

"It's good the see these prices - a lot of producers have bought in hay so it's good to see them getting something back," he said.

Coolawang has previously set records at Naracoorte for its first-cross ewes and Mr James said it was great to see the wethers also receive good prices.

"We don't focus on wethers as they're typically a byproduct of trying to breed a first-cross ewe but it's pleasing to see they can hold their own," he said.

Elders Naracoorte's Josh Reeves said the pen had "presented beautifully" in an improved market.

He said most pens sold between $8.60-$9.20/kg.

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He said the smaller yarding, of 2472 lambs and 1543 sheep, helped boost the returns.

"I think we're pretty close to the end of the run (of lambs) here in the South East, and people are turning attention to suckers," he said.

Lightweight lambs for the trade market sold to $162, while 2 and 3-score lambs reached $176. Heavy lambs sold from $210 to $244, with extra heavy types mostly between $240 and $278.

Hoggets received to $188 as light ewes sold to $121/head. Mediumweight ewes reached $164, with the heavy selection topping at $210.

Numbers were also down at Dublin with 5500 lambs and 1600 sheep yarded.

The sale reached a top of $320 for some extra heavy lambs.

Light lambs lifted as much as $8, selling to #132, while heavyweights reached $272.