For the annual feature store lamb production sale, now in it’s third year, livestock manager Matt Cummins penned 3524 recently weaned winter-drop lambs.

There was a total clearance for the 1719 Meat Plus/ Primeline wether lambs, 652 Meat Plus/ Primeline ewe lambs and 1153 Meat Plus/ Primeline mixed sex lambs, all of which were drafted into suitably weighed lots.

Top price at $146.50 was paid by a lamb finisher from Young, for the two pens of Meat Plus/Prime Line wether lambs totaling 602 which weighed 41.5kg average; while the third pen of 301 lambs also weighing 41.5kg average were bought for $146.

The same buyer was active during the sale, purchasing 272 wether lambs, weighing 37kg average weight for $135.50, before he completed his activity taking the next two lots, a total of 544 wether lambs also weighing 37kg average for $137.

A Riverina-based lamb finisher purchasing through Delta, Wagga Wagga took the last pen of 389 wether lambs weighing 33.3kg for $121.

The two pens of Meat Plus/ Primeline ewe lambs, 652 in number with an average weight of 31.5kg sold to Wagga Wagga-based restocker for $116.

The two pens of mixed-sex lambs were purchased by Tony Rutter from Tarcutta for lamb finisher clients.

The first pen of 505 lambs with average weight of 28kg sold for $100, while the second pen of 304 lambs with average weight of 25kg sold for $90.50.

A lamb finisher from Forbes picked up the final pen on offer, 344 mixed-sex lambs weighing 29.5kg for $98.50.

Speaking after the sale, Bobbara Station livestock manager Matt Cummins said the sale result was fantastic considering the season, and the stock had performed particularly well through a tough winter and spring.

“It is showing a lot of confidence in the current sheep market and although the prices have come back in the past couple of months it is still a sustainable level,” Mr Cummins said.

“We had an average of $122/head or $3.68/kg, so the sheep really sold themselves.”

Delta livestock agent Cam Rosser said it was a very strong market with a lot of interest from repeat buyers in the lambs on offer.

“There was strong competition across all grades,” he said. “We had feedlotters, backgrounders and breeders here.”

The auction was conducted by Delta Livestock and Property, Young, with Aaron Mackie taking the auctioneering duties.