These scanned in-lamb Merino ewes at Bung Bong in Victoria sold for $341 on AuctionsPlus last week.

SCANNED in-lamb Merino ewes sold to $341 and young first cross ewes made to $422 on AuctionsPlus last week.

AuctionsPlus offered 68,351 sheep and lamb last week, 31,938 fewer than the previous week.

Clearance remained steady at 75 percent across all sales, with the central west region of New South Wales continuing as the highest purchasing are, with producers buying more than 15,500 after recent rainfall.

Recent weeks have recorded strong prices across all categories, but last week there some price corrections, with the biggest being a $39 fall in the average price of Merino ewe lambs to $200.

However, the average price for young Merino breeders increased by $29 and first cross ewe values lifted $40.

Merino ewe lambs sold from $135 to $281, with 90 percent of the offering sold. The top price was paid for a line of Apr/May 2019 drop Bundaleer blood lambs weighing 48kgs and with a 5.5cm fleece at Rand in NSW.

Merino ewe hoggets sold from $212 to $291 and averaged $252, down $9. The top price was for two separate lines, including by a South Australian buyer at Keith for a line of 22-23 month-old Angenup blood ewe hoggets at Narrogin, Western Australia, that were scanned in-lamb to White Suffolk rams. They weighed 52kgs and had a 4cm fleece. At Warroo, NSW, a line of Karbullah blood 18-20 month-old station-mated ewes that weighed 44kg with a 6cm also achieved the top price.

Young Merino ewes make $341

Young Merino ewes, 2-4 years-old, averaged $288 and sold from $185 to $341. The top price was paid for a ling of rising three year-old Karbullah blood ewes scanned in-lamb to Poll Dorset rams and weighing 52kgs at West Wyalong, NSW. At Lameroo, South Australia, three lines of rising three year-old ewes offered as a run out of the gate sold for $291 to NSW buyers. The ewes were scanned in-lamb to Suffolk and White Suffolk rams and weighed 58kg

Proven Merino ewes four years-old and older sold from $143 to $291, averaging $234, up $6. The top price was paid for a line of rising six year-old ewes scanned in-lamb to White Suffolk rams at Streatham in Victoria. The ewes weighed 62kgs and had a 6cm fleece. At Young in NSW, a line of 3-6 year-old Hazeldean, Collinsville and Richmond blood ewes weighing 57kgs sold for $253.

Merino wether lambs sell to $195

Merino wether lambs sold from $124 to $195, averaging $157, up $6. The top price was paid for a line of Aug/Sept 2019 drop Kerin Poll blood weighing 54kg and with a 3cm fleece at Newbridge in NSW. At Ilfracombe in Queensland, a line of Sept/Nov 2019 drop Mumblebone and Mt Ascot blood lambs weighing 38kgs and with with a 2cm fleece sold for $154. Older Merino wethers sold from $130 to $215, averaging $162. The top price was paid for a line of 19-20 month Greendale blood wethers weighing 68kgs and with a 6cm fleece at Cooma in NSW.

First cross ewe lambs sell to $337

These scanned in-lamb 15-20 month-old first cross ewes sold for $422 at Allendale SA on AuctionsPlus last week.

First cross ewe lambs sold from $196 to $337 and averaged $268, up $3. The top price was paid for a line of Aug/Sept 2019 unjoined ewe lambs weighing 52kgs at Walgett, NSW.

First cross ewes sold from $292 to $422, averaging $386, up $40. The top price was paid for a line of 15-20 month ewe hoggets scanned in-lamb to composite, Dorset and White Suffolk rams and weighing 70kgs, at Allendale in SA.

A line of Poll Dorset ewe lambs, May/July 2019 drop, weighing 61kgs, at Hawkesdale in Victoria sold for $400. At Condobolin in NSW, two lines of rising two year-old station mated White Dorper ewes weighing 45kg sold for $315.

WA sheep head across the Nullabor

AuctionsPlus offered 6640 sheep and lambs in Western Australia last week and all sold to eastern states’ buyers.

Merino ewe lambs sold from $191 to $220, averaging $203. A Victorian buyer at Wycheproof paid the top price for a line of East Mundalla blood June/July 2019 drop ewe lambs at Harrismith that weighing 42kgs and with a 4.5cm fleece. Scanned in-lamb Merino ewes sold from $259 to $303, averaging $284. A South Australian buyer at Keith paid the top price for a line of rising four year-old Wallinar blood ewes at Broomehill that were scanned in-lamb to Poll Merino rams and weighed 69kgs.

Tasmanian composite ewe lambs sell to $214

In the Tasmanian sheep sale last week, there was full clearance of the 4534 head offered. Highlights included $214 paid for a line of Oct/Nov 2019 drop composite ewe lambs weighing 38kgs at Mole Creek. At Strathblane, a line of Sept/Nov 2019 drop Polwarth and Suffolk cross store wether lambs, weighing 43kgs sold for $162 to a Victorian buyer at Yea.

Store lamb offering drops

AuctionsPlus offered 12,335 store lambs last week, 5307 fewer. Prices ranged from 370-619c/kg live, averaging 469c/kg, down 27 cents. Highlights included:

–              Sep/Nov 19’ – 28kg 1st X White Suffolk/Merino mixed sex store lambs from NARRABRI, New South Wales sold for $166 or 619c

–              May/Dec 19’ – 36kg Dorper mixed sex lambs from GOONDIWINDI, Queensland sold for $165 or 458c

–              Nov/Dec 19’ – 34kg White Dorper and Dorper store wether lambs from COBAR, New South Wales sold for $170 or 521c

–              Jul/Sep 19’ – 43kg Composite and Dorset/Composite mixed sex store lambs from STRATHDOWNIE, Victoria sold for $195 or 462c

–              Aug/Sep 19’ – 41kg 1st X White Sufflok/Merino mixed sex store lambs from COONALPYN, South Australia sold for $168 or 399c

–              Jul 19’ – 36kg 1st X Poll Dorset/Merino store wether lambs from SHEPPARTON, Victoria sold for $184.50 or 508c