AUSTRALIA’S online sheep and lamb offerings last week almost doubled as recent rainfall, and high saleyard prices and strong wool demand boosted the confidence of sellers and buyers.

AuctionsPlus operations manager Tom Rookyard said sheep and lamb listings last week increased by 30,097 head to 65,660.

Listings from all states increased, but those from north-west New South Wales, central NSW and southern Queensland accounted for 47 percent and included a significant number of unjoined Merino ewes and Merino wether lambs.

Mr Rookyard said NSW buyers continued to dominate the purchasing last week, influenced by recent rainfall and a strong wool market.

“There appears to be some growers looking to spring with a positive outlook, as scanned in-lamb Merino ewes and ewe hoggets drew strong buyer activity, with 79pc of 6000 sheep offered sold at auction.”

Scanned Merino ewes sell to $231

Scanned in-lamb Merino hoggets and grown ewes sold from $86 to $231, with an average of $181. The top priced line of 20-22 month-old Kelvale and Kerri-Kerri blood hoggets at Underbool in Victoria were scanned in-lamb to Poll Dorset rams. Unjoined and scanned empty Merino ewe lambs and hoggets sold from $110 to $150 last week, with an average of $133. Grown unjoined and scanned empty Merino ewes made $66 to $153, and averaged $109.

Merino wethers draw strong competition

Mr Rookyard said Merino wether lambs also drew strong buyer activity, achieving an 84pc clearance. They sold from $44 to $149, with an average of $99. Top-priced lines last week offered buyers options to either fatten or keep as fine wool growers, he said. The $149 lambs came from Beechworth in Victoria. They weighed 39kg live and carried a 6.5cm long fleece. A line of 36kg lambs at Wallendbeen in NSW sold for $129 and some 45kg lambs at Violet Town in Victoria sold for $123.

Scanned first cross ewes sell to $321

Smaller numbers of first cross ewe lambs averaged $159 online last week, selling from $102 to $195. The top-price was paid for line of July-August 2018 drop lambs at Gulgong in NSW. The top-priced SIL first cross ewes sold online last week were some three year-olds weighing 85 kgs at Dookie in Victoria that made $321 and were joined to Poll Dorset rams. First cross ewes sold from $200.

Store lamb numbers dwindling

Mr Rookyard said store Lamb numbers continued to dwindle last week, with 9697 head offered. The top prices included

Mixed sex lambs, $171, 338c/kg live, Aug/Sept 2018 drop, Fingal, Tas.

Mixed sex lambs, $153, 366c/kg, Aug/Sept 2018 drop, Bethungra, NSW.

Mixed sex store lambs, $152, 373c/kg, Aug/Sept 2018 drop, Benalla, VIC.

Mixed sex lambs, $152, 372c/kg, May/June 2018 drop, Deniliquin, NSW.

Mixed sex lambs, $151.50, 383c/kg, June/July 2018 drop, Binda, NSW.

Mixed sex trade lambs, $151, 343c/kg, July/Sept 2018 drop, Thallon, QLD.

Mixed sex lambs, $149, 366c/kg, July/Aug 2018 drop, Bethungra, NSW.

Mixed sex lambs, $147, 350c/kg, Aug/Sept 2018 drop, Ararat, VIC.

Trade wether lambs, $136, 336c/kg, Aug/Sept 2018 drop, Thallon, QLD.