RECENT rainfall rejuvenated online sheep and lamb demand from central west New South Wales buyers last week.

AuctionsPlus said central west NSW buyers purchased 15 percent or about 13,000 of the 85,286 sheep and lambs listed online last week – an increase of 14,820.

Demand across all sales was strong with clearance currently sitting at 83 percent.

AuctionsPlus said the online offering was also boosted by the ‘Back to the Wheatbelt’ sheep sales interfaced from Kondinin and Corrigin in Western Australia. The sales performed well with more than 10,000 head offered and a 100pc clearance achieved. Five lots were purchased online with a total of 51 connections across the two sales.

Merino ewe lambs sell to $241

Merino ewe lambs sold to a top of $241 for an average of $152, firm on the previous week’s sales. The top price was paid for 370 Poll Merino Aug-Sept 2018 drop ewes at Grenfell, NSW. The ewe lambs weighed 58kgs, had a 5cm fleece and were sold to a NSW buyer at Moss Vale.

Merino ewe hoggets sold from $60 to $315 and averaged $185, down $41. The top price was paid for 350 unjoined rising two year-old ewes at Bendigo in Victoria. The Woodpark Poll blood ewes weighed 62kgs and had 2cm fleece. They were sold to a Victorian buyer at Redan.

Young Merino ewes (2-4 years) averaged $150, selling from $60 to a top of $275. Proven breeders (4-7 years) averaged $123 and sold from $54 to a $200.

Merino wether lambs sold from $54 to $147 and averaged $101, down $11 on last week. The top price was paid for 267 April-May 2019 drop wether lambs at Rand, NSW. The lambs weighed 40kgs, have a 4cm fleece and were secured by a NSW processor.

Grown Merino wethers sold from $102 to $110 and averaged $106. The top price was paid for 465 23-24 month-old wethers at Rye Park, NSW. They weighed 44kgs and were sold to a NSW buyer at Lavington.

First cross ewe lambs sell to $255

First cross ewe lambs sold from $150 to $255 to average $206, up $9 on last week. The top price was paid for 90 Oct-Nov 2018 drop lambs at Lake Cargelligo, NSW. The lambs weighed 58kgs and carried a 4cm fleece. They were bought by a NSW buyer at Griffith.

First cross ewe hoggets averaged $242, up $9 from last week, and sold from $220 to $260. The top price was paid for 305 unjoined 14-15 month-old ewes at Nyngan, NSW, which weighed 56kgs.

Other first cross ewe highlights included 430 1.5-2 year-old ewes with 423 second cross lambs at Mendooran, NSW, selling for $314. The ewes weighed 51kgs and had a 7cm fleece. They were bought by a Victorian buyer at Warrnambool.

Other highlights included 430 3-4 year-old Coolalee/Dohne/Border Leicester cross ewes with 650 lambs at Wagga Wagga, NSW, selling for $351. The bare shorn ewes weighed 79kgs and were sold to a NSW buyer at Howlong.

Store lamb numbers totalled 12,311 head, down by 33,385 head on last week. Demand was strong with all lots selling. Highlights included

–    June / July 2019 drop, 36kgs, 1stX Poll Dorset/Merino mixed sex lambs from Wirrinya, NSW sold for $161 or 443c.

–    June 2019 drop, 37kg, 2ndX Poll Dorset/Border Leicester mixed sex lambs from Marrar, NSW sold for $160 or 447c.

–    March / April 2019 drop, 41kgs, 1stX White Suffolk/Merino mixed sex lambs from Dookie, VIC sold for $160 or 384c.

–    June 2019 drop, 37kg, 2ndX White Suffolk/Border Leicester mixed sex lambs from Bethungra, NSW sold for $157 or 430c.