These Australian White ewe lambs sold for $601 in NSW last week.

AUSTRALIAN White ewe lambs sold for $601 in a reduced online sheep and lamb offering on AuctionsPlus last week, as the strong demand for the hair sheep continued.

The $601 price was paid for two lines of July/August 2020 drop 54kg Australian White ewe lambs joined to AW rams at Condobolin, New South Wales.

Another highlight was the $392 paid for a line of 1.5 year-old composite and Primeline/composite cross ewes weighing 60kg at Trangie, NSW, that were joined to White Suffolk rams and had 7-14 week-old Poll Dorset lambs.

Sheep and lamb numbers offered through AuctionsPlus totalled 91,763 head last week, a decrease of 30,143.

A number of special sales were held last week, including the Nutrien Bombala Annual Feature Breeder & Weaner Sheep Sale (7910 head), Lambpro Primeline Maternal Ewe Sale (4618) and Nutrien Cooma Feature Store Sheep Sale (4673). The Riverina and Central Western NSW continued as the two largest purchasing regions, securing 9671 and 8554 head, respectively.

Merino ewe hoggets make to $295

Merino ewe lambs averaged $211, selling from $81 to $245, down $20. From Black Rock SA, two lines of Jun/Jul 20’ drop Mernowie and Glenville blood future breeder ewe lambs, weighing 40kg with a 5mm skin returned the top price. From Wycheproof VIC, a line of Jun/Jul 20’ drop Kolindale blood ewe lambs weighing 42kg with a 20mm skin returned $212, and are headed north into NSW.

Merino ewe hoggets sold from $194 to $295, averaging $257, down $4. The top price was returned by a line of 17-18-month-old Lewisdale blood hoggets, weighing 50kg with a 43mm skin, scanned-in-lamb (SIL) to White Suffolk Rams.

Young Merino breeders (2-4 years) averaged $253, selling from $190 to $315, down $16. From Arno Bay SA, a line of rising 3-year-old Morley blood ewes, weighing 91kg with a 58mm skin, SIL to Poll Merino Rams, returned the top price.

Proven Merino ewes in demand

Proven Merino breeders (4+ years) sold from $197 to $300, averaging $256, up $39. The top price was returned by a line of 2.5–5.5-year-old Barooga blood ewes from Tamworth NSW, weighing 70kgs with a 30mm skin, SIL to Poll Dorset and White Suffolk Rams.

Merino wether lambs averaged $133, selling from $102 to $183. From Quambatook VIC, a line of Ninuenook blood Apr/May 20’ drop, trade wether lambs weighing 50kg with a 19mm skin, returned the top price. From Brocklesby NSW, a line of Jun/Jul 20’ drop Bulgandri and Meadow blood wether lambs returned $145, and are headed south to Victoria.

Merino wethers sold from $126 to $259, averaging $212 and up $47. From Brewarrina NSW, a line of 5-year-old Bundy blood export wethers, weighing 86kg with a 76mm skin returned the top price.

First cross ewe lambs sold from $270 to $300, averaging $281, down $6. The top price was returned by a line of Apr/May 20’ drop Border Leicester/Merino future breeder ewe lambs, which weighed 57kg.

First cross breeders sold from $223 to $279, averaging $245. From Mullion Creek NSW, a line of 5-6-year-old Border Leicester/Merino NSM ewes weighing 75kg returned the top price. Additionally, a line of 15-17 month-old Border Leicester/Merino ewes from Walcha NSW, weighing 52kg, returned $279.

Smaller Tasmanian offering

Tasmania had a total offering of 2166 head this week, down 634 head on last week. Returning the top price for the sale was a line of Sep/Oct 20’ drop 2nd cross Coopworth mixed sex store lambs from Dunalley, weighing 42kg, which sold for $165. Other highlights included a line of Sep/Oct 20’ drop Coopworth future breeder ewe lambs weighing 32kg, selling for $147.

Store lamb rates come back

AuctionsPlus offered 24,176 store lambs last week, down 5969 head. The smaller offering saw increased demand across the category, with a 95pc clearance achieved. Prices ranged from 329c to 576c, averaging 436c/kg – down 11c from the previous week. Highlights included:

–              Oct/Nov 20’ drop, 28kg, Dorset x Border Leicester/Merino mixed sex store lambs from Walcha NSW, sold for $152, or 576c/kg.

–              Sep/Oct 20’ drop, 36kg, Charolais/Composite and Poll Dorset/Composite wether lambs from Mullengandra NSW, sold for $165.5, or 466c/kg.

–              Jul/Sep 20’ drop, 36kg, Australia White x Australian White/White Dorper wether lambs from Isisford QLD, sold for $158, or 439c/kg.

–              Jun/Jul 20’ drop, 39kg, White Suffolk/Composite store wether lambs from Dunkeld VIC, sold for $160.5, or 409c/kg.

–              Jul/Aug 20’ drop, 42kg, 2nd X Composite mixed sex lambs from Parndana SA, sold for $165, or 393c/kg.

–              Jul/Aug 20’ drop, 51kg, 2nd X Poll Dorset/Composite mixed sex store lambs from Willaura North VIC, sold for $194, or 383c/kg.