BUYERS were hungry for sheep at Wycheproof special store sheep sale today.
First they emptied the canteen of all its lamb sandwiches 45 minutes before sale time, then they paid up to $170 for unjoined first-cross ewes and $162 for scanned in lamb Merino ewes.
A large crowd followed auctioneers through the yarding of 12,000 head, but most kept their hands firmly in their pockets.
Exceptions included Brian O'Halloran and Co, of Warrnambool, which paid the day's top price of $170 for 68 September-October 2008-drop, October shorn, unjoined first cross ewes from D&S Monaghan.
First-cross ewes made $114 to $170, while joined Merino ewes sold at $110 to $162 and unjoined Merino ewes fetched $76 to $131.
Competition between processors pushed Merino wether prices to $113, while Merino wether lambs sold for $41 to $75.
Buyers came from Ararat, Ballarat, Bendigo, Birchip, Boort, Cootamundra, Donald, Kerang, Hamilton, Hopetoun, Horsham, Ouyen, Penola, St Arnaud, Stawell, Swan Hill, Tumbarumba, Warracknabeal, Warrnambool and Wycheproof.
