UPDATE: FIRST-cross Border Leicester-Merino ewes were $30 down on pre-Christmas rates at Kyneton.
In an exceptionally large Kyneton yarding of 15,000 head, 1-1/2-year-old ewes sold to a top of $260, while the tops of the first-cross ewe lambs returned $192.
"The job’s back a bit, so we had to expect it," said Elders Kyneton manager Brendon Coxon.
Don Younger, from Morundah, NSW who topped Kyneton last year at $307, topped it again this year with 346 ewes which he bred himself and were judged the “pen of the sale” to win the Geoff Keech trophy.
The buyers were Phil Murphy and Ron Hobson from Thorpdale.
Mr Murphy admitted that he was expecting to pay another $20.
Nevertheless Mr Younger was satisfied with the price which he thought was very realistic considering the where the lamb market was.
Most of the better-conditioned 1-1/2-year-olds sold upwards of $200, although several pens could have been picked up for $160.
The trend was similar in the ewe lamb pens, when the Dutton family from Bendigo and the Heath brothers from Jerilderie shared the top price of $192 for well grown joinable lambs.
The top lamb price was considerably down on $276 paid last year at Bendigo for John and Peter Darker ewes lambs.
Today the Darkers had to be satisfied with $188 for top pen of 178 lambs out of Woodpark Merino ewes.
Most of the op prices were paid by Gippsland buyers led by Jason Innes of Lamdmark Thorpdale and Graham Fullgrabe Sharp Fullgrabe, Bairnsdale, who between them bought nearly 2500 head.
Lighter lambs suitable for growing out sold consistently at about $130-$140.
