A smaller yarding than expected at the Kyneton annual cross-bred ewe sale brought some suprrising results, according to leading auctioner, McGrath Rodwell's Keiran McGrath.

Agents yarded yarded 6234 head of ewes, down about 1000 on what was expected.

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"The ewe lamb job was very patchy and there were some ewes, in my opinion, that were well under the job," Mr McGrath said.

"Once you got to the bottom run of the ewe lambs, I thought they made their money, but there were some real good joinable age ewes there, that struggled to attract major bidding."

He said the Gippsland buyers "made their presence felt," and Ballarat, Bendigo, Kilmore and local agents and purchasers were also in attendance.

"The sale lacked a bit of depth," he said.

"I thought the gallery was quite good but there were a lot of lookers.

"The sheep aren't in the district and I think the sheep might not even be in the country."

Elders Dean Coxon said he was very happy with the sale.

"Our sheep presented really well, our top end sheep sold really well," Mr Coxon said.

"It was very similar to Ballarat, for the type of sheep offered.

"It wasn't as hot as Bendigo, but all the markets have eased a bit."

He estimated the numbers were down, on what was expected

"We had a similar number of ewe lambs, that's a sign of the times, a lot more people are joining ewe lambs, and not growing them out as one and a half year olds," Mr Coxon said.

"We have had such a great season, a lot of our ewe lambs were heavy, joinable, well grown, ready to go."

Topping the sale was a pen of 128 May-June 2020-drop Blackgate-blood ewes, which went for for $405, to Sharp Fulgrabe.

The ewes, presented by Anthony and Kate Barri, Glenhope, were also awarded the Geoff Keech Memorial Trophy for best presented pen.

"I think they were outstanding, I don't think you would get ewe lambs as good - you wouldn't see a lot a hell of a lot better," Mr Coxon said.

R&P Paget sold 162 September-October, 2019-drop ewes, Elengerrin-blood for $390, to TB White, Ballarat.

Amanda Foley, Darrenden, Rochford, sold 150 Pina-blood May/June 2019-drop ewes, for $388.

Her second pen of 101 sold for $370, to Nutrien, Ballarat.

Mick Ryan Ardsley Pyalong sold a pen of 101 Baynton-blood May-June 2019-drop ewes for $386, to Elders Shepparton.

Stockrange, Glenhope, sold 70 Pina-blood May-June 2019-drop ewes for $370.

BP Kelly, Pyalong, sold a pen of 150 Brurob-blood ewes, June-July 2019-drop, for $360, to TB White, Ballarat.

P Searle sold a pen of 74 May-June 2019-drop, Brurob-blood ewes for $388 to Nutrien, Kilmore.

Geoff Younger, The Springs, Woodend, sold a pen of 43 by 3.5-year old ewes for $267.

A pen of 46 by 2.5-year old ewes sold for $260.

Stonyvale sold a pen of 152, 2015-drop ewes for $200.

Glenhope sold a pen of 139 ewes for $354.

R & H, J.D & R McNutt, Knowsley, sold 50 ewes for $390.

Among the 2020 drop ewe lambs, FX & SM Coghlan, Bridgewater, sold 204 Blackgate and Towarri-blood ewes for $300.

Glenhope Pastoral, Glenhope, sold 139 Baynton-blood May-June 2020 drop ewes for $354.

P Kelly sold 49 Brurob-blood May/June 2020-drop ewes for $234.

Pastoria Park sold 60 June/July 2020-drop Baynton-blood ewes for $230.

Langley Past Company, Langley, sold 141 May-June 2020-drop Baynton-blood ewes for $284.

Sutton Hills sold 30 Blackgate-blood 2020-drop ewes for $230.

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