MERINO and Dohne ewe sales continued to feature on AuctionsPlus last week, as sheep and lamb numbers lifted slightly.

Sheep and lamb numbers lifted 403 to 30,486 head of commercial stock last week.

AuctionsPlus said buyer confidence was promising, with an 82 percent clearance of lines offered.

Young Merino ewes sold exceptionally well, averaging $201 and topping at $251. The top price was paid for 118 late-March shorn of 21-22 month old Merino ewes from Coomandook, South Australia, that were scanned 100 percent in-lamb to White Suffolk rams.  The 59.5kg lwt ewes were mostly score 2 in condition. The same vendor also sold a small line of 53 three year-old 69kg Merino ewes, also scanned in-lamb to White Suffolk rams for $249.

Mixed age ewes made an average of $152, with a top price of $180 being paid for 129 2-5 year-old early-February shorn ewes from Temora, New South Wales. These North Ashrose and Woodpark blood ewes weighed 66.2kg, were mostly score 4, and scanned in-lamb 145pc to Poll Dorset rams. A line 220 2-3 year-old mid-November shorn Merino ewes at Henty, NSW, sold for $200. These ewes weighed 55.5kg lwt, were mostly score 4, and scanned in-lamb 119pc to Poll Dorset rams.

Older Merino ewes averaged $104 and topped at $161 for 560 5-6 year-old early-January shorn ewes scanned 100pc in-lamb to White Suffolk rams at Kapunda, SA. They weighed 61.3kg and were mostly score 4.

A line of 269 2-6 year-old, mid-October shorn Dohne ewes scanned in-lamb 140pc to White Suffolk rams sold for $250 at Coonalpyn, SA. The ewes weighed 72kg and were mostly score 3.

A big draft of 1000 18-19 month-old mid-November shorn Dohne ewes hoggets at Laura, SA, sold for $236, in two lines of 500. They were scanned in-lamb 100pc to White Suffolk rams, weighed 51.5kg and were mostly score 3.

Merino wethers sell to $134

AuctionsPlus said Merino wethers also made good money this week, with lambs ranging from $82-$133.50 and averaging $118. The top price was paid for 910 9-19 month-old mid-April shorn The Mountain Dam blood lambs weighing 17.1kg cwt at Woorndoo, Victoria. These 8 to 9 month old fellas weighed in at 40kgs with a 2.5 inch skin and are bred on Mountain Dam bloodlines. A line of 440 11-12 month-old mid-October shorn Merino wethers, 15.8kg and mostly score 1, at Tallimba, NSW, sold for $132.

Online lambs sell to $169

Prime lambs sold to $169 online last week. The top price was paid for 434 8-9 month-old early-January shorn Poll Dorset cross lambs, 26.6kg cwt and mostly score 3.

Store lambs last week sold up to $142.50 for 470 Poll Dorset cross lambs at Taralga, NSW. The 6-7 month-old lambs weighed 16.2kg and were mostly score 2. Lambs in the 35-39kg lwt range made from $95 to $142.50 to average $123 or 334c/kg lwt.

The 25-29kg lwt lambs made $118-$125 to average $122 or 432c/kg, the 30-34kg lines sold for $122-$127 to average $124 or 384c/kg, and the 40kg-plus lambs made $125-$135 to average $131 or 310c/kg.

First cross ewe lambs sell to $225

First cross ewe lambs last week sold for an average of $203 and a top of $225 for a line of 210 9-10 month-old late-October shorn lambs at Trangie, NSW. The 55.1kg lwt lambs were mostly score 4. Two other similar lines from the same vendor sold for $242.

Older first cross ewes sold to $242 for 131 early March-shorn five year-olds, scanned 175pc in-lamb to Poll Dorset rams at Kaniva, Victoria. These ewes weighed 83.6kg and were mostly score 4.

A line of 55 10-12 month-old Australian White and White Dorper ewe lambs, joined to White Dorper and Australian White rams, 48.1kg lwt and mostly score 3, from Hebel in southern Queensland sold for $173.

Source: AuctionsPlus.