AUCTIONSPLUS sheep and lamb listings increased last week, but clearance rates decreased as rainfall boosted vendor price expectations.

In four commercial sales last week, AuctionsPlus offered 88,403 sheep and lambs, an increase of 7289 head.

Numbers were dominated by the lamb sale which attracted 51,233 head, but similar to saleyard offerings throughout the eastern states, market price expectations led to a 45 percent online sale clearance.

AuctionsPlus’ overall clearance slipped to 48, with the Tuesday sheep sale registering the highest clearance of 52pc.

Merino ewe hoggets sold from $108 to $216.50 to average $159. The top price went to a line of Studall blood ewes at Wallaloo in Victoria. The quality 17-18 month-old breeders weigh 50kg lwt with a 1.5” skin. At Henty in New South Wales, a line of 12-13 month-old Borrambil blood Merino ewes weighing 52kg with a 2.5” skin sold for $211.

Young Merino breeders averaged $127 and sold to a top of $150 for a line of two year-old ewes at Walgett, NSW. The Bungulla and Haddon Rig blood ewes weighed 47kg and had a 1.5” skin. Older Merino ewes averaged $133 and sold to a top of $170. This top price was paid for a line of 5.5 year-old 66kg Kedleston Park blood ewes at Cavill in Victoria with a ¼” skin.

Merino wethers sell to $130

Merino wether lambs sold from $44.5 to $130 to average $87. The top price went to a line of 1,024 April/May 2018 drop lambs at Spalding in South Australia, Gum Hill and Springvale North blood,  and weighing 38kg with a 2” skin. The lambs were offered over four lots and were sold to buyers at Elmore in Victoria and at Kadina, SA. Grown Merino wethers averaged $47 and sold to a top of $48. The top price was paid for 810 12-13 month-old bare shorn Hazeldean and Severn Park blood hoggets, weighing 29kg at Cooma, NSW.

First cross ewe hoggets make $250

First cross ewe lambs averaged $179 and sold to a top of $216 for a line from Western Flat, SA. The April/May 2018 drop 61kg ewe lambs weighed 47kg. Ewe hoggets averaged $201 and sold to a top of $250. This top price went to a line from Wellington, NSW that was sold to a buyer 1125km away at Mt Gambier, SA. Grown first cross ewes averaged $183 and sold to a top of $191. This top price was paid for 400, three year-old ewes, weighing 60kg at Coolamon, NSW. They were sold to a buyer at Hamilton in Victoria.

Other highlights include a line of Suffolk and Composite ewes and lambs from Glenthompson, Victoria that sold for $221. The 2-5 year-old ewes weighed 69kg. The Suffolk lambs at foot were 1-5 months-old and weighed 33kg.

Source: AuctionsPlus.