Coming through a very good winter season, all sheep presented in excellent condition, with many pens prime and could have attracted attention from butchers had they been present.

As it was, strong buying commitment from restockers kept many other sheep producers out of the market through their determination to secure sheep.

Buyers were also aware of the scarcity of quality Merino ewes listed for spring breeder sales.

Livestock agent for Nutrien at Hillston and Hay, Peter Fisk quoted the sale as 'above expectations' and also thought the sale 'exceptional' in line with many comments along the rails.

"It was very strong for young ewes and exceptional for the older ewes which sold to $50 up on last year's top price," Mr Fisk said.

"The sappy lambs also made exceptional money and overall the sale was above expectations."

Top price at $360 was paid by interests from Wagga Wagga for the pen of 310 April/May 2019-drop, June-shorn Merino ewes.

Weighing 71kgs, the Ballatherie-blood and bred ewes were sold on account the Peters family, Ballatherie, Hillston.

Second top price was also achieved by the Peters' family when their pen of 338 August/September 2019-drop, June-shorn ewes also sold to a Wagga Wagga producer for $350.

Excellent sales included $330 for 318 May/June 2019-drop, August-shorn ewes, weighing 62.5kg sold on account the Glenn family, Edward Park, Moulamein.

They were Ballatherie-blood and bred at Edward Park.

M.K Vagg, Furlong, Hillston sold 273 April/May 2019 drop, July-shorn ewes for $324.

The Bluebush-blood ewes weighed 67kg and were bought by a Forbes-district restocker.

T.E Parr Farming, Merriwagga sold 205 April/May 2019 drop, August-shorn ewes, Pooginook-blood and weighing 62.4kg for $290: first time vendors, Tubbo Station, Darlington Point, sold 233 Tubbo-and Ridgeway-blood Merino ewes, June/July 2019-drop, June-shorn and weighing 56.2kg for $295 and ALW Partnership, Moolbong, Hillston recieved $285 for their pen of 190 April/May 2019 drop, June shorn ewes, Bluebush-and Alma-blood, weighing 64.5kg.

In the pens of older ewes, the Peters' family sold 495 Ballatherie-blood and bred ewes, April/May 2015 drop, June-shorn and weighing 78.3kg for $234 when bought by Griffith district interests, while their second pen of 338 ewes, same description sold for $272 when bought through AuctionsPlus.

J.H and S.E McKeon, Disalie, Hillston sold 250 May/June 2014 drop ewes, February shorn and Ballatherie-blood, weighing 67.2kg for $190 while the second pen, exactly same description but only 249 sold for $182.

Windara Partnership, Hillston sold 111 April/May 2014 drop, July-shorn Charinga-blood ewes weighing 80kg for $180.

Good lines of unshorn Merino wether lambs sold to $132 on strong competition from producers looking for medium term wool cutters.

The Peters' family sold 683 April/May 2020 drop and Ballatherie-blood weighing 45kg to a buyer from Narrandera for $132: the McKeon partnership also received $132 for their pen of 317 April/May 2020 drop wethers weighing 45kg and a second pen from the Peters' family weighing 44.5kg sold for $132.

Burgess Farming, Dundoon, Hillston sold 229 April/May 2020-drop wethers, Caroonboon-blood and weighing 41kg for $124 while R and C Millthorpe, Weenya, Hillston sold 132 April/May 2020 drop, August-shorn and weighing 36.7kg for $120.

The only pen of unshorn mixed-sex cross-bred lambs, June/July 2020 drop and weighing 30kg sold by R and C Millthorpe made $129.

Successful buyers also attended from Leeton, Nyngan, Hay and Forbes while competition through AuctionsPlus proved a floor in the market.

The sale was conducted by Nutrien, Hillston and Hay.

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