Offshears reach $202 at Lameroo

Elders Lameroo manager Pat Larsson said the better end of the 1.5-year-old ewes sold for prices slightly better-than-expected, considering the seasonal conditions.

"Local breeders put in a lot of effort when preparing their sheep for this sale, which was only made harder by the hot weather," he said.

"Thankfully our repeat buyers know the sheep they want to buy and are willing to pay for it."

The more sought after, top 10 lots made from $170 to the $202 top, while the rest of the 1.5yo made from $120-$167.

RM&S Pocock, Lameroo, sold the first pen of the sale - 204 July-shorn 2014-drop Lines Gum Hill-blood, Lampata-bred ewes - at $202, bought by Elders Strathalbyn, account Rushmore Run.

The second pen of the sale from the Howard family, Annerley Props, Geranium - 245 August-shorn April-May 2014-drop Lines/Gum Hill-blood ewes - also made the $202 top; while the third top pen was also the sale's best presented pen, awarded to DK&DM Farr, Pyap West.

Two dispersals were also conducted during the sale, with Miegel Farms, Lameroo, leasing their property out to a local farming family, while the Byrne family, Lameroo, sold their sheep to go into cropping.

The Miegels sold 215 July-shorn, June 2014-drop Collinsville-blood ewes at $172 to Rodwells Keith, account Watson; 231 June 2015-drop woolly ewe lambs at $93 to Elders Pinnaroo; a secondary pen of 67 ewe lambs at $83; and 110 April-shorn, June 2010-drop ewes at $126 to PPH&S.

While LJ&MC Byrne sold 248 September-shorn April-May 2014-drop Lines Gum Hill-blood ewes at $171 to PPH&S Naracoorte, account Pitt, while a secondary pen of 95 sold at $142 to Elders Pinnaroo.

The Byrnes also sold older ewes of similar breeding - 68 2.5yo ewes at $110; 282 3.5yo ewes at $144; 4.5yo ewes at $138; and 70 3.5-4.5yo ewes at $110.

Ewe lambs sold up to $101, with the top money paid to NL&VM Singh, Alawoona, for 282 September-shorn Lines-bloods May 2015-drops.

Mr Golding said the hot weather had affected some of the older ewe lots, which made anywhere from $100 for 5.5yo ewes, up to the $146 for 3.5-4.5yo.

PJ Gilbertson, Lameroo, sold the 248 September-shorn 2011-12-drop Glenlea Park-bloods at $146 to Elders Bordertown, acc Glynn.

The yarding of 9000 was well down on previous sale numbers, which Mr Golding attributed to breeders selling older ewes and wethers earlier due to seasonal conditions.

"The small amount of wethers that were sold made prices on par with recent sales," he said.

Mr Larsson said some locals went home empty-handed, with competition strong on the few lots offered.

"The wethers sold slightly better than expected, with people realising there is money in sheep and are prepared to fatten lambs," he said.

The top price of $98 went to 178 August-shorn April-May 2015-drop Lines Gum Hill-blood wethers from GR Schild, Lameroo, which were bought by Greg Brown, Underbool.