Nothing gave more evidence of this trend than last Wednesday’s Narromine store sheep sale of some 24,000 head where continuing big numbers of crossbred and Merino breeding stock met with solid demand and some of the highest prices of the year, even though this was the last store sale of 2009.

Among several factors supporting an excellent result was an offering of exceptional quality, a return of southern buyers anxious to secure restockers and some strong competition by butchers for older sheep.

Prices for first-cross ewes ranged from $60 to $149, averaging $118.50, almost $20 above values last year and up $10 to $15 a head on last month’s sale, thanks to the return of Cowra and Victorian restockers, according to Christie and Hood’s Narromine based agent, Tim Wiggins.

“We had a very good quality yarding of crossbreds totalling about 5000 head, which also resulted in a firm market for store lambs,” he said.

Full story in The Land.