MORE than 12,000 sheep bought online moved back into the Riverina region of New South Wales last week.

With good rainfall throughout the Riverina over the past six weeks buying confidence is high, AuctionsPlus’ Alexa Hearn said.

Sheep and lamb numbers totalled 61,337 head on AuctionsPlus last week, representing a small decrease of 777 head. Clearance rates remained strong at 73 percent.

AuctionsPlus also offered 1680 goats in Queensland last week. The 480 Boer and Boer cross does from Morven, QLD, aged 9 to 10 months, weighed 31kg and sold for $216 to a buyer at Narrandera, NSW. The 1200 rangeland bucks from Charleville, QLD, aged 8 to 9 months, and weighing 24kg sold for $122 to a buyer at Hughenden, QLD.

Merino ewe lambs reach $218

Merino ewe lambs sold from $110 to $218, with an average of $169. The top price went to a line of Kamora Park Netley Park blood Merino ewe lambs from Curramulka, SA. The ewes were April / May 2018 drop, weigh 42kg with a 1.5” skin. Merino ewe hoggets sold from $100 to $246, with an average of $179. The top price went to a well-established self-replacing flock from Forbes, NSW. These ewes have been bred from on Yarong bloodlines, are aged 14 to 15 months and weigh 40kg with a 2.5” skin.

Young Merino breeders sold from $150 to $260, with an average of $197. The top price went to a line Gunnegalderie blood ewes from Wellington, NSW. These rising 3 year old ewes weigh 60kg and have been scanned in lamb to White Suffolk rams. Proven breeders and mixed aged lines sold from $118 to $255, with an average of $174. The top price went to a line of Springvale North blood ewes from Burra, SA. These ewes are aged 4.5 to 5.5 years, weigh 59kg with a 3” skin and have been scanned in lamb to White Suffolk rams.

Merino wether lambs sell to $162

Merino wether lambs sold from $87 to $162, with an average of $116. The top price went to a line of Woodpark blood lambs from Hay, NSW. These lambs are May / June 2018 drop and weigh 20kg dressed, selling to a Victorian processor for 818c/kg dressed. Wether hoggets and grown wethers sold from $88 to $168, with an average of $121. The top price went to a line of Murrawondah and Coban blood wethers from Quilpie, QLD. These wethers are aged 2 to 3 years and weigh 53kgs with a 2.5” skin.

First cross ewe lambs make $250

First cross ewe lambs sold from $141 to $250, with an average of $223. The top price went to a line of 840 lambs from Wellington, NSW. These ewes have been bred from western ewes and sired by KJC stud Border Leicester rams, are August / October 2018 drop and weigh 55kg. Ewe hoggets sold from $161 to $257, with an average of $232. The top price went to a line of 13 to 14 month old ewes, weigh 50kg and are scanned in lamb to Poll Dorset rams, from Glenorchy, VIC.

Store lamb clearance approached 100pc

AuctionsPlus offered 11,190 store lambs last week and a 97pc clearance was achieved.

–              Jan/Feb – 19, 38kg, Border Leicester/ Merino mixed sex suckers from Wellington, NSW sold for $179 or 469c/kg

–              Oct/Dec – 18, 34kg, White Suffolk / Merino mixed sex lambs from Pyramid Hill, VIC sold for $165 or 484c/kg

–              Mar/Apr – 19, 22kg, 2ndX White Suffolk mixed sex lambs from Mendooran, NSW sold for $140.5 or 650c/kg

–              Feb/Mar – 19, 28kg, Australian White / Composite lambs from Surat, QLD sold for $122 or 444c/kg

–              Sep/Dec – 18, 31kg, Dorper lambs from Glendambo, SA sold for $122 or 399c/kg