PRICES didn't come close to emulating pre-Christmas sales during the annual first-cross ewe sale at Kyneton on Friday, with agents attributing the drop to a poor lamb growing season.
Elders Kyneton manager Brendan Coxon said the 1.5-year-old Border Leicester-Merino ewes yarded made the money that was expected, the better quality types making $230-$250. However the ewe lamb section didn't present as well as hoped.
"Prices were certainly cheaper than the pre-Christmas sales," he said.
"The lambs presented certainly didn't have the condition or freshness wanted.
"It hasn't been a good lamb season in this area, the cooler weather hasn't given lambs the sap they needed and feed quality has let producers down."
While Rodwells McGrath agent Keiren McGrath said the sale was solid without "being over the top".
"Last year we had a very dear sale, which many were expecting to be the same on Friday, but mainly the sheep made what they were worth," he said.
"Some of the lambs and the tail end of the ewes didn't have the bloom, which has also been evident at local prime markets sales recently."
Best ewe lambs made from $170 to top at $196, the seconds $150-$170, while the tail enders averaged $130-$150.
It was a better day for the 1.5-year-olds, despite not even close to hitting last year's top price of $307.
The better types made $230-$260, while the second run madde $200-$230.
The sale's top price of $260 went to last year's market topper Don Younger from Sandside Station, Morundah via Jerilderie, NSW, who also took home the Geoff Keech trophy for the best presented pen for the second year in a row.
Mr Younger's pen of 346 October-shorn, May-June 2010-drop, Sandside Station bred and blood BLM ewes was bought by Landmark's Jason Innes on behalf of two Thorpedale clients Phil Murphy and Ron Hobson.
Mr Innes was one of the major buyers at the sale, taking home 1000 of the 1.5yo ewes and 200 ewe lambs for five different clients.
He said prices were easier at the sale, compared to last year, and he made the most of the opportunity.
Mr Innes also bought the sale's second highest priced pen at $257 - 240 August-September 2010-drop Templemore-bloods from M&E Robinson, Mount Macedon.
Sharp Fullgrabe Bairnsdale agent Graeme Fullgrabe was the other major buyer at the sale, taking home 750 ewe lambs, 250 1.5yo and 140 older joined ewes on behalf of three clients at Tambo Upper, Buckan and Gelantipy.
He said ewe lamb prices were down $40-$50 to what they were making prior to Christmas.
Corriemony, Yea, sold the largest draft of ewe lambs at the sale - 1125 November-shorn, June-July 2011-drops - which sold from $112-$150.
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