Cooranga ewe lambs reach $318 high

The 7317 Border Leicester-Merino ewe lambs sold to $318 - up $78 on last year - with an average price of $281 - $93 ahead of 2018.

The 7057 wethers sold to $182, averaging $151 - back slightly on last year's $205 top and $161 average.

Overall, the sale averaged $216.84 for the 14,374 lambs.

The top price was paid line of 611 June/July-drop ewe lambs, bought by repeat buyers II&PE Hocking, Lucindale.

Pauline Hocking said the pen appealed with its size.

"They're ready to mate, so we don't need to wait two to three months, into next year, we can get into production with them," she said.

Ivan Hocking said the Cooranga sheep grew out well, and would be joined to White Suffolk rams for second-cross lamb production.

The second-highest ewe price was $304 for a run of 900, bought by NJ&MJ Watson through Elders Lucindale.

Regular buyer Scullion's Farming, Apsley, Vic, bought 1411 ewe lambs to $300, averaging $274, through Pinkerton Palm Hamlyn & Steen.

PPHS also bought two pens of 150 and 795 at $298; Dismal Swamp, through Elders Mount Gambier, bought 400 at $290; Teagle, through Landmark Mount Gambier, bought 600 at $268; South West Farmers, Portland, Vic, bought 500 at $268; and JM Ellis, Hamilton, Vic, bought 500 at $272 and 155 at $268.

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RG&R Legoe, through Elders Lucindale, picked up 500 at $270; Elders Naracoorte, account Brewer, bought 100 at $264; and Elders Naracoorte, account Langkyne, bought 194 at $242.

In the wether offering, the top price was paid for a line of 1479, 57.7 kilograms, by JBS Bordertown.

JBS also bought 697 at $154 and 533 at $134.

Australian Lamb Company bought 994, 52.5kg, at $165.

Langkyne bought 200, 47.5kg, at $152; Miller Whan & John, account Beggs, bought 600 at $151; PPHS bought 382 at $145 and 1000 at $139; and JB Hoare, through Elders Naracoorte, bought 300 at $134.

The sale was conducted by PPHS and Elders with Elders Lucindale branch manager Ronnie Dix auctioneering.

Mr Dix said there was strong support from repeat buyers, as well as new buyers, particularly on ewe lambs.

He said this was partly in response to the lack of ewe numbers on the market, while the lambs had presented the best he had seen.

"The ewe lambs were always expected to go pretty good, because of recent sales, and they really held their own," he said.

"Getting as many or as little lambs as you'd want from one property (is appealing) for biosecurity reasons."

Jim James, Cooranga, Lucindale, said the family was happy with the sale results.

"Ewe prices were a bit stronger than expected and wethers were as expected," he said.

"It's a pretty good time to be in sheep."