AUCTIONSPLUS online sheep and lamb clearance rates improved last week for a slightly smaller offering of 73,680 head, 825 fewer than the previous week.

The overall AuctionsPlus clearance rate improved to 70 percent, with Merino ewes and ewe lambs dominating this week’s listing.

Numbers were boosted by 830 first cross ewes available in the Wycombe Poll Dorset & First Cross Ewe Sale, with the 15-17 month-old ewes selling from $100 to $162, to average $144.

In the SRS Non-Mulesed Sale, breeders offered 4675 Merino ewes, hoggets and ewe lambs. Merino ewes made from $90 to $166.50 and averaged $124.

In the general AuctionsPlus sales, unjoined Merino ewes sold from $65 to $246, averaging $126. The top price was achieved by 270 1.5-2.5 year-old Merino ewes at West Wyalong, New South Wales. The Wanganella blood ewes had a 7cm fleece and weighed 53.4kgs liveweight. At Yass in NSW, a line of 255 unjoined mixed age Merino ewes made $145. The Tallawong blood ewes weighed 47kgs and were carrying a 5cm fleece.

Scanned in-lamb Merino ewes sell to $200

Scanned in-lamb Merino ewes sold from $102 to $200 and averaged $150 on AuctionsPlus last week. The top price was paid for 284, rising four year-old Merino ewes at Frances in South Australia. The Moorundie Park blood ewes had a 5cm fleece, weighed 80kg and were in-lamb to White Suffolk rams. At Nyngan in NSW, 142 3-3.5 year-old Merino ewes with a 4cm fleece and scanned in-lamb to White Suffolk rams made $156.50. The ewes weighed 57kgs.

Merino ewe lambs make to $193

Merino ewe lambs sold as part of the 1400-head Angip Nominees’ flock dispersal made from $62.50 to $193 and averaged $139. The top price was paid for two lines of 300 Merino ewe lambs at Navarre in Victoria. The April/May 2018 drop lambs weighed 39kgs and had have 2cm fleece. All the Angip ewes were sold for an average of $163 across five lots.

Merino wethers sell to $107

Merino wethers averaged $99 and sold from $80 to $107 on AuctionsPlus last week. The top prices was paid for 400 17-18 month-old Woodside blood Merino wether hoggets with a 5cm fleece. The wethers were among 1200 from the Warrie Partnership that averaged $105.

Merino wether lambs sold from $45 to $131, averaging $76, online last week. The top price was paid for 240 April-May 2018 drop Merino wether lambs at Boorowa, NSW. The weighed 50kgs and were carrying a 4.5cm fleece. At Thallon In Queensland, 800 store wether lambs sold for $74. The Karbulah blood lambs were Aug/Sept ‘18 drop, weighed 33kgs and had a 4cm fleece.

First cross ewe hoggets average $156

Unjoined first cross ewe hoggets sold from $140 to $175 and averaged $156 online last week. At Willaura in Victoria, a line of 113 14-16 month-old ewes weighing 47kgs made the top price. A line of 180 15-18 month-old ewes at Boorowa, NSW, sold for $150. The ewes weighed 59kgs. First cross ewes lambs averaged $158 and made $122 to $215. The top price was paid for 154 May/June drop at Nhill in Victoria. The ewes weighed 54kgs.

Crossbred lambs average $103

Crossbred lambs sold from $51.50 to $146 to average $103. The top price paid for 261 White Suffolk/Merino mixed sex August-September lambs at Jugiong, NSW. At Grassdale in Victoria, three lines of 225 mixed sex Composite lambs sold for $101. These lambs were September 2018 drop and weighed 32kgs.

In the Tasmanian Sheep sale, 5489 head were sold after post-sale negotiations. At Bothwell, a line of 340 unjoined five year-old Merino ewes sold for $190. These ewes weighed 65kgs and ha a 5cm fleece.

Source: AuctionsPlus.