Solid result for Bendigo ewes but numbers well back

With numbers of breeders sheep back significantly from 22,000 to 14,000 head year on year for the first of Bendigo's big annual first-cross ewe sales, resultant prices were consistent and steady on recent district sales, with 16-drop ewe lamb values deemed much better than was expected.

The market top for 1.5 year-old lines, which were predominantly Sept//Oct-shorn, was $268 a head achieved on three occasions while the best sales of ewe lambs soared to an amazing $266 a head, with a follow-up price of $260.

As a consequence of the much smaller yarding a solid wall of prices was formed in the $240-$260 per head price range for the one year-off lines, while a large percentage of the 16-drop ewe drafts were sold in the $190-$220 a head price bracket despite many of these consignments lacking the bloom and finish of previous years.