These 31.7kg composite and Suffolk cross lambs at Macarthur in Victoria sold for $85 on AuctionsPlus last week.

LAMB prices were firm to stronger on AuctionsPlus last week and most categories achieved total clearances, but ewe results were mixed.

AuctionsPlus commercial sheep and lamb listings lifted by 5 percent to 31,642 head last week, as demand picked up.

Four out of the five lamb categories achieved total clearances, with only the offering of 4291 crossbred lambs missing the mark with an 82pc clearance.

AuctionsPlus said the market generally picked up last week and the average category clearance rate increased 27pc to 63pc.

There were mixed results for grown sheep listed, with clearances ranging from 8pc to 95pc and average prices falling for three categories, while four increased.

The crossbred lamb offering jumped 47pc to 4291 head, anad the average price remained firm at $85/head for an 82pc clearance. At Dubbo in New South Wales, 520 mixed sex February/March 2023 drop first cross lambs weighing 31kg sold for $86, or 277c/kg lwt to a buyer in Griffith, NSW.

The offering of 2048 Merino wether lambs averaged $61, up $5 for a 100pc clearance. At Mullion Creek in NSW, 195 September 2022 lambs weighing 41kg made $75, or 181c/kg lwt with a buyer in Wodonga, Victoria.

AuctionsPlus sold 60pc of the 5969 (up 17pc) scanned in-lamb Merino ewes offering, and prices also increased to average $102, up $2. At Adaminaby in NSW, 216 rising three year-old Merino ewes scanned in-lamb to Border Leicester rams and weighing 50kg made $115.

Scanned in-lamb first cross ewes consolidated their strong run in recent weeks, with the average price increasing by a further $3 to $177 as the offering fell to 1288 head. At Peak Hill in NSW, 204 14-15 month-old ewes weighing 59kg sold for $190 to a buyer in Horsham, Victoria.

Note: Prices as at 5pm Thursday, 29th June 2023