Scanned in-lamb crossbred young ewes made to a sale high of $263 a head at Wycheproof's special store sheep sale on Friday.
Jim Coffey, Elders, said the prevailing dry conditions saw a "smallish" crowd attend the sale, however those that were interested in buying sought lines of quality sheep, well prepared and well presented.
Mr Coffey said although cheaper, the more poor-presented, secondary quality sheep sold better than expected, which was a bonus for those needing to off-load stock due to the deteriorating conditions
He said the demand for crossbred sheep in general was okay, without being startling, while the better sales of scanned in-lamb young Merino ewes that made to a best of $185 appeared good value on the future prospects tipped for the lamb and wool industries.
The top-priced pen of scanned in-lamb young crossbred ewes were sold by WL, JE and JG Bath, Culgoa.
The line of 290, which were July/August 2017-drop ewes, were scanned 142 per cent in-lamb following a joining to a Poll Dorset ram from December 1, 2018.
The line was purchased by Elders Kyneton, while other pens of joined young ewes made $200-$220.
An even run of 2018-drop ewe lambs made $168 to a best of $178.
The tops of these sold by G&L McGurk, Charlton, were 170 Border Leicester/Merino ewes, May/June 2018-drop, December-shorn.
Most of these were late spring or summer shorn, while only a small portion were either mulesed and/or Gudair vaccinated.
The best-priced in the Merino ewes yarding was a scanned in-lamb line of 165 Merino ewes, 2017-drop, December-shorn, joined to White Suffolk rams.
These were sold by GD Collins, Woomelang, at $185, to WestTech, Kaniva.
A similar pen of the same description made $178 on a bid placed by Elders Swan Hill.
Other Merino ewes, SIL or depastured, made upwards of $175 with yards of three year-olds sold at $170 and three and four year-olds sold at $160-$180.
Better quality and conditioned three to five year-old Merino ewes, late spring shorn, made $110-$120, which Mr Coffey considered was only slaughter value or a shade better.
A selection of Merino wethers made to $118 for a pen of rising 1.5 year-olds.
These were February-shorn, Woodpark-blood, and sold by G&L Curnow, Teddywaddy, while late spring-shorn 2018-drop wether lambs made $82-$114, the best of these sold by Hastings Ag, the Jessee family, Swanwater.
Mr Coffey said the buyer support, although "smallish", was widespread.
There were successful bidders trucking sheep from the sale to Hamilton, Ballarat, Bendigo, Swan Hill, Mildura, Kilmore, Kyneton and Naracoorte, SA, plus the in between St Arnaud and Ballarat areas.