Markets

Queenslanders sell sheep and lambs despite Cyclone Debbie

Sheep Central, April 2, 2017

These August-September drop Poll Dorset and White Suffolk cross lambs at Bathurst, NSW, sold for $134.50 on AuctionsPlus last week.

WILD weather across parts of Australia could have been to blame for last week’s lower AuctionsPlus sheep numbers.

The online platform offered 47,613 sheep and lambs last week, 7554 fewer.

But despite Cyclone Debbie causing havoc in Queensland last week, the state’s producers offered 6255 sheep and lambs in 11 lots.

Nationally, 80 percent of lots offered on AuctionsPlus were sold, or 127 lots of 159 catalogued.

Scanned Merino ewes sell to $220

At Snowtown, South Australia, 217 21-22 month-old early March shorn Broadoak blood Merino ewes, 56.7kg lwt and mostly score 3, and scanned 124pc in lamb to Suffolk rams sold for $220. They are due to start lambing in early May.

In Netherby, Victoria, 120 late March shorn 2-3 year-old Dohne ewes, 68.7kg lwt and score 4, sold for $215 to a South Australian buyer. The ewes were 100pc scanned in lamb to White Suffolk rams.

Merino wethers also sold well last week, with prices ranging from $69 to $127. The top-priced line of 237 7-9 month-old mid-January shorn Merino wether lambs, 15.6kg cwt and score 2, from Tallimba, New South Wales, sold for $127.

A line of 1200 March-April drop mid-November shorn Merino wether lambs, 17.6kg cwt and score 1,  from Tambo in western Queensland sold for $122.50 to a Victorian buyer.

Store lambs sell to $134.50

These September-October drop Poll Dorset cross lambs at Bigga in NSW sold for $127 on AuctionsPlus last week.

Store lambs sold online last week made to $134.50 for a line of 650 August-September drop mid-January shorn Poll Dorset and White Suffolk cross lambs at Bathurst in New South Wales. The 17.5kg cwt lambs were mostly condition score 2.

A line of 412 September-October cross Poll Dorset cross lambs, 13.6kg cwt and score 1, at Bigga in New South Wales, sold for $127.

The 26-28kg lwt lambs sold online last week ranged from $106.50-$111 to average $109, 30-32kg lambs sold for $117-$117.50 to average $117, 33-35kg lines made $117-$127 to average $123, and the heavier 40-42kg lwt lambs sold from $120-$134.50 to average $127.50.

First cross ewe lambs to $200, Merino ewes to $221

A top line of 180 April-May drop late-September shorn first cross ewe lambs at Gunning, New South Wales sold for $200. The lambs weighed 50.4kg lwt and were mostly score 2. Another 60 18 month-old late September shorn first cross ewe hoggets at Grenfell, NSW, made $178.50.  These weighed 45.5kg lwt, were mostly score 2, and scanned 100pc in lamb to Poll Dorset rams for a late autumn or early winter lamb.

The Tasmanian sheep sale last week offered 2007 head. The top line of 300 September-October drop White Suffolk-composite ewe lambs at Bothwell, 47.9kg lwt and score 3, sold for $157.  At Gretna, Tasmania, 195 July-August drop White Suffolk cross ewe lambs, 56.7kg lwt and score 4, sold for $167.

AuctionsPlus market operations supervisor Tom Rookyard and market operator Anna Holcombe attended the Elders Western NSW Store Sheep Sale last week. The top priced ewes in the sale were 230 11-12 month-old late August shorn Merino ewe lambs, 35.9kg lwt and score 1, from Nyngan, that sold for $150. Merino ewes also made $150, for 310 unjoined early February shorn 1.5-2.5 year-olds from Walgett. The ewes weighed 48.4kg lwt and were score 2.

In Western Australia last week, the North Stirling Downs surplus Merino ewe dispersal was interfaced with AuctionsPlus. The sale agents achieved a 100pc clearance of 4380 head.

Top price of the sale was $221 for 220 2.5-3 year-old mid-March shorn Merino ewes, 60.1kg lwt and score 2, from Tambellup. The ewes were scanned 100pc in lamb to Suffolk rams.

Source: AuctionsPlus.

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