PRICES defied a flood of more than 64,000 sheep and lambs through Victorian and Riverina store markets last week.

Despite the high numbers yarded at Bendigo, Corowa, Horsham and Jerilderie in the past week, restockers paid up to $50 a head more than last spring for cross-bred ewe lambs.

Breeding stock was highly sought and although the sting came out of the market at the four saleyards for maiden Merino and first-cross ewes, rates were still up.

Bendigo's first feature spring sale of 18,500 drew a top of $254 for 1 1/2-year-old Border Leicester-Merino ewes and rates generally $10-$15 up on the same sale last year.

But the action was on the Merino ewe lambs, which reached $234 for joinable-aged pens.

Although some buyers were wary of paying high prices, those surveyed by The Weekly Times said they were prepared to pay for the right animal and to get the stock in the paddock.

Buyer of the top-priced first-cross pen, Richard Smith, from Apsley, operating through Landmark's Leigh Warne, opted to buy now rather than take his chances at Naracoorte's feature sales, which start tomorrow.

"We still think it is better to buy the best here rather than competing at Naracoorte," Mr Warne said.

At Corowa last week, first-cross ewes reached $261, but prices were softer across the yarding of 22,000 and some vendors opted to take stock home.

While many quoted the market $20 cheaper than other sales in Victoria and the Riverina this spring, prices were still $20-$50 better than last year.

Terry Drum, of Balldale, sold 238 first-cross ewes, May-June 2010 drop and September shorn for $258.

"Last year my same age ewes sold for $211 ... I was hoping for upwards of $200. It was above my expectations," Mr Drum said.

And at Jerilderie, restockers sought out Merino wether lambs to clean up after the grain harvest, pushing prices up $5 to $8 on markets held a month ago.

But Merino ewes in the 13,500 yarding were deemed $20 cheaper, reaching $204 for maiden 2010-drop ewes.