These Texel-White Suffolk cross lambs sold for $142 at Bothwell, Tasmania, on AuctionsPlus last week.

FIRST cross ewes sold to $272 and Merino wethers made to $145 on AuctionsPlus last week as online numbers rose 11,657 to 45,257 head.

AuctionsPlus said 15,868 wethers and 15,526 ewes were offered last week and the total clearance was 85 percent.

The top price paid for Merino ewes was $233 for 472 two year-old late-September shorn Willemenup blood Poll Merinos from Neuarpurr, Victoria. The ewes were scanned in-lamb 100pc to White Suffolk rams, weighed 55.8kg lwt and were in mostly score 2 body condition.

A small line of 86 2-4 year-old late-July shorn Hazeldean blood Merino ewes at Jerilderie, NSW, made $172.50. The ewes were scanned 144pc in-lamb to Poll Dorset rams, weighed 45.7kg and were mostly score 2.

A line 12-13 month-old unjoined Dohne ewes at Peelinga, South Australia, sold for $180. The early-November shorn ewes weighed 45.3kg lwt and were mostly score 2.

First cross ewes sell for $272

A Victorian buyer paid $272 for 330 12-13 month-old mid-April shorn first cross ewes at Wellington, NSW, that were scanned 131pc in-lamb to Poll Dorset rams. The ewes weighed 53.6kg and were mostly score 3.

A line 123 2.5-4.5 year-old first cross ewes at Maroona, Victoria, that had scanned 141pc in-lamb to Poll Dorset rams sold for $267. The late-February shorn ewes weighed 68.2kg and were mostly score 2 and 3.

A line of 162 June-July drop early-November shorn Booroola-Multimeat composite ewe lambs scanned 100pc in-lamb to composite rams sold for $260 at Wattle Range, South Australia. The ewes weighed 53.9kg lwt and were mostly score 3.

A line of 137 six year-old first cross ewes with 137 4-12 week-old Poll Dorset cross lambs sold for $270 at Blayney in NSW. The ewes weighed 72kg and were mostly score 2.

A small line of 78 1.5-2 year-old late-October shorn composite ewes scanned 125pc in-lamb to Poll Dorset lambs sold for $257.50. The ewes at Carapook in Victoria weighed 49.9kg and were mostly score 2.

Merino wethers make $145 in New South Wales

Merino wethers with nine months wool on their backs made to $145 online this week. The line of 335 early-August shorn rising two-year-olds at Neilrex in New South Wales weighed 17kg cwt and were mostly score 2.

A line of 230 May-June drop early-October shorn Merino wether lambs at Inglewood in northern Victoria made $140 online last week. The Goolgumbla blood wethers weighed 15.3kg cwt and were mostly score 1.

Store lambs sell to $141 online

Store lambs continue to sell well in online sales, making to $136. The 24-26kg cwt lambs made $81.50-$95.50 to average $88.50 or 347c/kg lwt, 27-29kg lines sold for $95.50-$115 to average $106 or 371c/kg, the 30-32kg lambs made $102.50-$128 to average $120 or 380c/kg and the 34-36kg lambs sold from $125.50-133.50 to average $132 or 366c/kg. The 37-39kg lambs made $125.50-$136 to average $133 or 345c/kg, the 40-42kg lambs sold for $128-$134.50 to average $131 or 316c/kg, and 43kg-plus lines made $141 or 322c/kg.

A line of 350 July-August drop late-January mixed sex Texel-White Suffolk cross lambs at Bothwell, Tasmania, sold for $142. The score 3 lambs weighed 21.7kg cwt. At Dirrandandi in Queensland, 450 August-September drop late-January shorn Poll Dorset cross lambs made $141. The 18kg cwt lambs were mostly score 2.

NLRS slaughter lamb indicator slip slightly

After Friday’s saleyard sales, the Eastern States Daily Indicators for lambs, their daily and weekly changes, were: restocker 704c/kg, up 4 cents daily and down 15 cents for the week; Merinos 593c/kg, up 1c, up 4c; light 653c/kg, down 3c, down 4c; trade 640c/kg, down 1c, up 6c; heavy 627c/kg, down 1c, up 1c. The Merino ESDI closed unchanged on 511c/kg, unchanged on Thursday, and up 14 cents for the week.

Cowra’s medium and heavy trade lambs firm to cheaper

In New South Wales at the Cowra saleyards on Friday, the agents yarded 5180 lambs, 630 more than last week, and 190 sheep, 180 fewer.

The NLRS said lamb quality was good in the heavy runs, but there were some plainer lighter lines yarded. Mainly trade and heavy weight lambs were offered, with a few store lines. All the usual buyers were operating and competition was steady, resulting a generally firm market.

Light lambs sold to restockers for $88-$130. Medium and heavy trade weights sold firm to a couple cheaper in places and averaged 615-630c/kg cwt. Most of the heavy trade weights made $140-$148. Heavy weight lambs were mostly firm and averaged 620-630c/kg. A good run of extra heavy lambs sold from $200-$217.

Mutton sheep quality was mixed. Heavy first cross ewes were $9 cheaper and made $125-$149, or 485c/kg cwt.

Griffith trade lambs ease $2-$4

At the Griffith saleyards, the agents yarded 10,700 lambs, 1600 more than last week, and 800 sheep, 1700 fewer.

The NLRS said lamb quality was very mixed, with some handy lines of well-finished and grain-assisted pens along with the plainer types. Most were heavy and extra heavy weight lambs.

The usual buyers competed in an easier market. Light lambs eased $1 to average $121. Trade weights were $2-$4 easier with prices ranging from $122-$148. Heavy and extra heavy weight lambs were $3-$4 cheaper. Heavy lambs sold from $147-$163 and extra heavies made $164-$229. Carcase prices averaged from 607-627c/kg. Merino lambs sold from $132-$190.

Mutton sheep quality was very mixed. Prices slipped $5, with Merino ewes selling from $114-$170. Dorper ewes made $116-$165 and crossbred ewes reached $162.

Sources: MLA, NLRS, AuctionsPlus.