IN A NEW Victorian record, joinable age first cross ewes hit $268 at the special store sale in Benalla today.
And, the grass-fuelled frenzy didn't stop there with restockers snapping up first cross ewe lambs to $202.The market was equally as dear in the store wether lambs, with prices up to $109.
Benalla Associated Agents yarded 9500 sheep for the annual sale.
Sheep sold to Yarrawonga, Euroa, Shepparton, Mansfield, Pakenham, Wangaratta, Bendigo, Ballarat and Benalla.
Last year, unjoined one-and-a-half-year-old first cross ewes topped the sale at $196.
With a big crowd watching on, the run of quality joinable age first cross ewes hit $268 this year, and sold down to $194.
Robert and Tim Hayes, of Ruffy, sold the top price pen of 181 May-June 2009 drop ewes, by Superborder rams and out of Hazeldean blood ewes.
The September shorn ewes were bought for $268 by Merrijig restocker Joe Pulitano.
"We had been prepared to go to $240 but we were pushed along - they were great quality and first cross ewes are running out,'' Joe said.
First cross ewes with lambs sold for $192-$214 while a small selection of one-and-a-half year old Merino ewes sold for $142-$181.
A bidding war on spring shorn ewe lambs broke out with the tops selling for $202 and down to $136 for plainer types.
Competition was just as strong on the store wether lambs, with prices at $69-$109.Justin Way, Rodwells Benalla, said both young first cross ewes and ewe lambs sold at rates $20-$30 dearer than expected.
"It was a very solid sale and a reflection of the spike in the lamb and mutton markets again, and a lack of numbers,'' Mr Way said.
"Ewe lamb prices were enormous considering the age and weight of the lambs.
"Store wether lambs were very strong - $4-$5 dearer than what we have seen.''
