MORE store sheep and lambs were offered on AuctionsPlus last week as confidence returned to sellers and buyers.

Online sale platform AuctionsPlus said sheep and lamb listings increased 14,902 to 77,697 last week, with higher offerings in every state.

New South Wales led the sell-off, offering 44,783 head, up 8315, and also bought about 57 percent of the sheep and lambs offered.

Victorian producers offered 13,272 head, up 584 on the previous week; Queensland listed 12,000, 1835 more; South Australia’s offering increased by 2401 to 6287, and; Tasmanian farmers listed 1612 head, 767 more.

Clearance remained strong with 80pc, increase of a a few percent on the previous week, and regional NSW led the destination list: central west NSW, 14,147, the Riverina, 9101, western NSW 3360, and the south-west slopes and plains, 2909. Victoria producers and processors bought about 11pc of the national offering, with 2506 sheep and lambs going into the south-west, 4240 head into the north-west and 2364 into northern Victoria.

AuctionsPlus said the buying in NSW could be speculative purchasing, as growers will likely continue to have stock on feed over the winter, but looking to capitalise on a spike in values in spring.

Stock values could potentially jump in spring, as restockers look to a tighter market that has been strongly affected by low lambing rates and increased females culls that are currently occurring, AuctionsPlus said The retained strong demand in the sheep and lamb markets will drive prices up as the national flock dwindles during this extended drought period across key growing regions.

The top price achieved at auction this week was $275, this was achieved by 350 Kerin Poll blood SIL Merino ewes from Trangie, NSW. Weighing 60kgs, aged 2.5 years with a 2.5” skin, these ewes will travel to Benalla, VIC.

Unjoined Merino ewe prices jumped this week and topped at $180. The top price was achieved by a line of 100 Kamora Netley Park blood Poll Merino ewes from Perponda, SA. Weighing 60kgs and aged 2 years, these ewes will travel to Naracoorte, SA.

First cross ewe lambs found the top price in the Thursday National Sheep Sale and sold to a top of $258 for a line of 166 SIL ewe lambs from Jugiong, NSW. Weighing 65kgs and are rising 2 years, these lambs will travel to Cootamundra, NSW.

Weekly price breakdown

o             First cross ewe lambs sold from $129 to $198 and averaged $171, down $4 on last week

o             Merino ewe lambs sold from $95 to $195 and averaged $154, up $3 on last week

o             Merino wether lambs sold from $78 to $147 and averaged $112, up $3 on last week

o             Merino weathers sold from $69 to S151 and averaged $126, although down $5 on last week – Merino wethers were the most popular stock category this week achieving 95% clearance

o             Empty Merino ewes sold from $88 to $188 and averaged $124, up $28 on last week

o             Joined first-cross ewes sold from $167 to $250 and averaged $218, down $13 on last week

o             Joined Merino ewe lambs sold from $72 and topped the sales at $275 to average $182, down $7 on last week

o             Crossbred lambs sold from 347c to 471c and averaged 401c, down 8c on last week

o             Multi-Purpose lambs sold from 270c to 373c and averaged 338c

There were several notable offerings in this week’s auctions; including a run of 2,840 lambs offered A/c ‘Grimwade And Gordon’ of Glenthompson, VIC. These lots achieved 100% clearance and averaged $128. In the North, A/c ‘Caley Pastoral Co’ of Walgett, NSW offered a run of 2,643 head of trade & woolgrower wethers that found an average of $115 and achieved 100% clearance. From Gularambone, NSW A/c ‘Merri Merri Pty Ltd’ offered 2860 store wether Dohne lambs that achieved 72% clearance and averaged $119.