THE impact of the flow of sheep across the Nullabor from Western Australia to the eastern states was felt in Victorian saleyards last week.

At Wycheproof, most vendors were happy, but conceded the heat had come out of the market.

Bidding for 2009-drop first-cross Border Leicester-Merino ewes topped at $230 for pens from KY Pastoral and R,D,J&J Simpson; both were July-August drop and September shorn.

Ewes with lambs sold to $300 for a pen of first-cross 2009-drop ewes, with July-drop White Suffolk lambs, from Alderside Park.

These were bought by Eric Bubb of Glenthompson, in the Western District.

"It's roughly what I thought I'd have to pay to get them. I'll keep the ewes on to breed second-cross lambs until they are cast-for-age and grow the lambs out," Mr Bubb said.

Kevin Thompson, of Elders, said ewes with lambs sold to expectations while 1 1/2-year-old crossbred ewes were $10 to $15 stronger, due in part to improved quality amid the best spring the drawing region had experienced in several decades.

The handful of first-cross 2010-drop lambs attracted keen bidding and reached a top of $206 for a pen of March-drop, September-shorn lambs from AD and RL Gawne that were mature enough to join in the New Year.

"It's the same everywhere you go; you just can't get them," Mr Thompson said.

The best of the young Merino ewes were $5 to $10 stronger, with the balance of the Merino ewe yarding firm, as were Merino wethers, he said.

However, some vendors mused that the influx of breeding ewes from Western Australia had eroded the strength of the winter market.

One seller, who did not wish to be named, said many vendors would have been hoping for the $170-$180 paid for young

Merino ewes during winter and instead received $140-$150, due to the availability of sheep from Western Australia.

"We've all bought some," he said. "It just takes a few buyers away, who would have been here desperate to get stock, thinking there was nowhere else to get them."

Still, most vendors were content, with rates well up. Father-son duo Stewart and Craig Perry, of Corack East, sold unshorn April-May drop Merino ewe lambs and wethers for $139 and $111 respectively, to top the market on both.

"We're very happy with that. We've got enough breeders at home, so we decided to sell the complete drop of (271) ewe weaners off," Stewart said.

"We've kept all last year's weaners to join and our older ewes are still pretty young. Things are looking good at home: you'd have to go back to the 70s to remember a better feed situation."