STORE sheep and lamb prices remained high, but slipped for Merino lines in an increased offering on AuctionsPlus last week.

The online platform offered 129,044 sheep and lambs, 2851 more than the previous week.

New South Wales’ central west region continued to secure large numbers, purchasing 16,868 head.  Northern Victoria producers also purchased significant numbers, securing 14,147 head. The offering was boosted by the Jerilderie John Wells Memorial Store Sheep Sale which offered 9040 head.

Clearance rates remained firm at 82 percent nationally across the weekly commercial sales; with prices lowering for young Merino ewes and lambs, and Merino wethers and wether lambs. Prices increased in all other categories.

Young Merino ewe prices struggle

Merino ewe lambs sold from $163 to $217 to average $203, down $8. The top price was paid for a line of August/September 2019 drop scanned empty Pastora blood ewe lambs weighing 43kgs from Brennan Agriculture at Henty, NSW. They sold to a Wagga Wagga buyer.

Merino ewe hoggets sold from $122 to $360, to average $259, down $10. The top price was paid for a line of 15-16 month-old June shorn ewes weighing 66kgs from Aloeburn Pastoral Co. at Boree Creek, NSW. They sold to a Victorian buyer at Patrice Vale. Another highlight was $340 for Glendemar P/L’s unjoined July-September 2019 drop Poll Merino ewe hoggets weighing 55kgs with 50-63mm fleeces at Kanya, Victoria.

Young Merino ewes 2-4 years-old sold from $183 to $290 to average $228, $22 easier. The top price was paid for a line of scanned empty March shorn ewes weighing 64kgs from McIntosh Pastoral Co at Molong, NSW. They sold to buyer at Mudgee.

Proven Merino ewes 4 years and old sold from $156 to $300 to average $209, up $12. The top price was paid for a line of 3-7 year-old Leahcim blood ewes with 1-5 week-old Merino lambs from A. & B. Davidson at Tamworth, NSW. The ewes weighed 81kgs and had 50-75mm fleeces. They sold to a Queensland buyer at Roma.

The AuctionsPlus Merino wether lamb offering increased by 16,599 head to 39,711. The clearance rate was strong at 97pc. However, they sold from $92-$152 to average $125, back $10. The top prices was paid for a line of May/June 2020 Charinga blood lambs weighing 45kgs and with 38-50mm fleeces from P.M. Lawrence & Sons at Hay, NSW.

Merino wethers sold from $95-$157 to average $118, down $9. The top price was paid for a line of 17-18 month-old Gunbar blood wethers weighing 63kgs from ‘Aberdeen Plains’ at Laen in Victoria. They sold to a Victorian buyer at Cranbourne.

First cross ewe lambs sell to $353

AuctionsPlus sold first cross ewe lambs for from $275 to $353 to average $305, up $33. The top price was achieved two lines of August/September 2019 drop lambs weighing 61kgs from Fraddon Hills Pty Ltd at Wellington in NSW. They sold to a buyer in Dubbo.

First cross ewe hoggets sold from $231 to $335 to average $320, $13 easier. The top price was paid for a line of 12-13 month-old ewe hoggets weighing 57kgs from R.T., M.F. & G.B. Masonwells from Narromine, NSW.  They sold to a NSW buyer at Forbes.

Store lamb prices lift

AuctionsPlus offered 18,654 store lambs last week, 4655 more. The increased offering failed to impede buyer confidence and a complete clearance was attained. Prices ranged from 353-550c/kg livweight to average 408c/kg, 13 cents higher. Highlights included:

–          Jul/Aug 20’ drop, 22kg, White Suffolk/Merino store wether lambs from KINGSTON, South Australia sold for 550c or $120

–          Jun/Jul ’20 drop, 29kg, White Suffolk/Merino mixed sex suckers from CUDAL, New South Wales sold for 509c or $147

–          Jun/Jun ’20 drop, 31kg, Poll Dorset/Merino mixed sex lambs from POMONAL, Victoria sold for 457c or $143

–          Jun/Jul ’20 drop, 31kg, White Suffolk/Merino store wether lambs from KINGSTON, South Australia sold for 455c or $143

–          Jun/Jul ’20 drop, 34kg, Poll Dorset/Merino mixed sex suckers from BOROWA, New South Wales sold for 451c or $155

–          Jun/Jun ’20 drop, 39kg, White Suffolk/Border Leicester/Merino mixed sex suckers from BETHUNGRA, New South Wales sold for 427c or $165