While substantially back on the prices of the past two years, there was still some positive sentiments at the first-cross ewe lamb sale at Naracoorte.
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With an offering of 32,173 ewe lambs, the sale achieved an average of $108 and gross price of $3,496,732.
The top price was achieved by Altus Pastoral, Lameroo, with $186 for its 150 April/May-drop Taronga Park and Belmont-blood ewe lambs, which sold to Grundy Pastoral, Naracoorte.
Altus Pastoral offered a total of 750 to achieve a $147 average, with 250 ewe-lambs sold to Thomas Degaris Clarkson (Brecon) at $160, 181 to Nutrien Leongatha, Vic, a/c JE&GA Fitzgerald to $132 with 170 to TDC on behalf of the Groth family, to a $112 price.
Reflective of the market, prices were back from last year when of the 34,969 yarded a top price of $358 was achieved, with a gross price of $8,294,334 and a $237 average.
The second highest price was also achieved in the Southern Australian Livestock run with McPiggery, Lameroo, selling 251 Johnos, Paxton and Taronga Park-bld March/April drops to $178 to Nutrien Leongatha a/c S&J Jennings.
McPiggery also sold 150 to Grundy Pastoral at $170, 151 to TDC (Brecon), and 201 to S&J Jennings all for $170, while the total run averaged $151.
Southern Australian Naracoorte livestock agent Mat MacDonald said the sale was impressive considering the market, with the Mallee-raised sheep a particular positive.
"Those early drop Mallee ewes, they're joinable and are doing the job for people," he said.
"They were the highlight of our run and that's why we saw them make good money."
Altus Pastoral has developed a reputation for quality and well-presented sheep.
"They've sort of got back into the game the last 10 years and have built their reputation up," Mr MacDonald said.
The Elders run was led by Marmon Hill, Jabuk, which sold 177 Coolawang & Inverbrackie-bld April/May drops for $172 to Pasin Noms, through Miller Whan & John.
Another 184 went to TDC a/c Brecon Breeders for $166 while the Reichelt family, OB Flat, bought 70 at $162.
Marmon Hill sold 2400 in total for an average of $149.
Elders Naracoorte branch manager Tom Dennis said the sheep in their run were as good if not better than any sheep they had yarded before.
"We certainly had annual buyers still operating at a rate that was well down from previous sales," he said.
"On the whole it's in line where we thought it was going to be."
The number of people breeding ewe lambs to grow out to 1.5-year-olds had been largely reduced, he said.
"We saw some of them go into feedlots and we saw some of them go back to the paddock as well at a much reduced rate," he said.
"There was certainly some good buying through the lighter ewe lambs and through the front end, we thought that was quite solid."
The Marmon Hill team has been long time sellers at the sale and had a focus on genetics and feeding, which they do exceptionally well, Mr Dennis said.
The blue ribbon for the best presented lot was judged by Anthony Hurst, Seriston, Avenue Range, and awarded to Gregurke LR&Partners, Parrakie.
The pen of 246 Coolawang-bld March/April drops sold to TDC for $160.
The Gregurke family also sold 130 to the Russell family, through LMB Linke Pty Ltd, Hamilton, Vic, for $148, with 131 to Yoho Pty Ltd, Cadgee, for $162.
Anthony and Jayne Gregurke said they were very excited to receive their first blue ribbon.
"We've been selling here since the mid-90s and it's the first blue ribbon we've ever got and we're happy to get it," Mr Gregurke said.
"The Border Leicesters have got to have good length and growth, because they're going to be a mum, so they're going to have terminal sires over them.
"They've got to have good body of frame so they can carry a couple lambs under them for a few years, so that's what we target."
The Gregurkes were happy with their prices and said they hoped the sale prices would continue to improve.
"We've been farming long enough to know the prices go in cycles and at the moment we hope the tough cycle doesn't last very long," Mr Gregurke said.
"People have just got to go with whatever they've got and we're happy with our prices on the day, given the market."
TDC had its run led by Telang Lamb and Beef, Wangolina, with 100 Inverbrackie-bld May-drops sold at $142 by KP Farms, Naracoorte.
Telang Lamb and Beef also sold 509 ewe lambs to AWN Stawell, Vic, for $140.
Sparks Farming ex-Munduney, Munduney, led the Nutrien offering with 80 of their Glencorrie and Inverbrackie-bld April/May drops sold to TDC for $150, with a second run of 313 to the same buyer for $144.
Farmers Leap, Padthaway, achieved the top price in the PPHS offering, with 132 April/May Paxton-bld ewe lambs sold for $164 to AJ&PK Schubert, Hynam, with another 305 to Csg for $146.
