The 07-drop ewes sold from $49-$84 and averaged $64.40, with 05/06-drop ewes making $47.50-$73 to average $62.

Elders’ Geoff McCallum said young ewes sold well – particularly shorn young ewes.

“Any better spring shorn ewes made $65-$80 with not too many selling for less than $50.”

He said woolly ewes at the start of the sale were harder going and while they sold to $84, they mostly sold from $45-$60.

The 03/04-drop ewes made $45-$57 to average $53.

“Mixed age ewes sold well to $70 for two year-olds while March shorn three-year-olds off Gundaline made $67.50,” Mr McCallum said.

Not many older sheep were penned. The strong mutton market has taken many four and five-year-old ewes to the processor.

The 08-drop Merino ewe lambs sold from $19-$33.50 to average $27, while 08-drop Merino wether lambs made $30.50-$50 to average $40.

Mr McCallum said wether lamb prices were “really good”, with 07-drop wethers making $36-$54 to average $51.

“It was credit to the vendors that in a shocking season the lambs came up as well as they did. They sold to $50 but you could hardly buy a lambs for under $30. These prices are enormously encouraging for the wether lamb job,” Mr McCallum said.

Coulpataro, Booligal, got the highest price of the sale - $84 for a line of 450 May-June 07-drop Alma blood August shorn Merino ewes

Winilba, Hay, got second top of $82 for 350 May-June 07-drop April shorn Caroonboon blood Merino ewes.

For full report and store sale coverage see Stock & Land, September 25.