Battling tough conditions, especially in areas with no water allocations, sheep presented in excellent condition and were rewarded with dearer rates.

Many vendors were pushed to sell by the challenging season, but were thankful that rain had fallen in the south-western corner of the State and that there was a steady market for the district's sheep.

The large run of store sheep reached a top price of $71.50 a head on two separate pens of Poll Dorset second-cross lambs, with ewes and lambs sold to $125, Merinos to $65 and wethers to $40.

* Extract from a full sale report to appear in Stock & Land, August 14 issue.