THE festive cheer continued at Casterton where the town's annual Christmas sheep sale gifted vendors up to $50 a head more than last year's sale.
Landmark Casterton agent Greg Bright said rates were $30 to $50 dearer for all ages of store sheep and mutton in the yarding of 18,000 mostly first-cross ewes yesterday.
"Most good 1 1/2 year-old ewes made from $140 to $170 but the 2 1/2 and 3 1/2 year-old ewes was really where the money was. The better end of these made from $140 to $160,'' Mr Bright said.
Bidding topped at $190 for 75 2 1/2 year-old Border Leicester-Merino ewes from Ferry Hills.
The 4 1/2 and 5 1/2 year-old ewes made from $100 to $140 with 5 1/2 year-old Corridale and Merino ewes selling from $90 to $100, Mr Bright said.
Cross bred sheep ready for slaughter reached $100 and ewe lambs were firm on recent sales, he said.
Buyers from Hamilton, Horsham, Colac, Bannockburn, Ballarat and south-east South Australia competed fiercely with those from the Casterton area.
"The strength of the sale came from a combination of local buyers and regular supporters of the day,'' Mr Bright said.
He said the performance of the prime lamb industry in the latter half of last year was what hade made the difference.
"It's the way it should be ... now if we could just see the same thing happen for the cattle industry.''
