PROVEN breeding-age sheep faired best in a yarding of 10,000 mostly Merino and Merino-cross ewes at Bendigo today.
Demand was greatest for breeding stock three-and-half-years old and upwards, bolstered by the dispersal of the Lyons family's Benagre flock, Longwood.
Neville Triplett sold 105 second-cross Dohne ewes, two-and-a-half to three years old, September shorn and by top artificial-insemination sires for $70 and 83 seconds for $56 to repeat buyer, Lindsay Falls, Dingee.
Mr Falls said he had bought first-cross Dohne ewes from Mr Neville two years ago and had returned for similar sheep to produce heavy lambs. The ewes will be joined immediately to prime lamb sires and replace some older types at Mr Falls' Dingee property, Yaralla On Aitken.
The better runs of one-and-half year old Merino ewes made from $70 to $86 with secondary types commanding $50 to $70.
A pen of 259 one-and-a-half year old Merino ewes from the McGauchie family's Terrick West at Prarie, of the stud's own breeding and October shorn, topped the market.
A pen of 120 ewes, also one-and-a-half years old from GL Homberg, Bendigo and Pooginook blood were knocked down for $80.
Merino wether lambs made to $54 for a pen of 73 one-and-a-half year olds from RG and NE Sewell, Roseville Park blood, but generally sold in a range of $33 to $44.
Rams met with limited interest; many were passed in and the few sold topped at $280 for six from L and H Houldon, Goornong.
