AUSTRALIA’S online sheep and lamb offering declined again last week, but strong demand kept clearance rates high.
The number of sheep and lambs offered on AuctionsPlus last week dropped by more than 8000 to 56,284, which included 306 goats offerd in New South Wales and Western Australia.
AuctionsPlus said the the overall clearance rate across all weekly auctions rose to 93 percent. A complete clearance was achieved in many stock categories, including notably the Merino ewes and wether lambs. Merino wether prices vaeraged $42 higher to $178 and the average prices for a Merino ewe hogget increased by $26 to $228.
Buyers in central western NSW again dominated bidding and secured 19,300 head or 34pc of the national offering. Another highlight was the purchase of just under half of lots listed in Tasmania by mainland buyers.
Strong demand for Merino ewe lambs
Merino ewe lambs sold from $135.50 to $224, averaging $189, up $45, with the listing of 1500 head selling out. The top price was paid for a line of April/May 2019 drop lambs from G. & L. Lewis at Corowa, NSW. The Elelabra blood lambs weighed 39kgs and were part of the Pinegrove classed ewe dispersal. AtPenong in South Australia, a line of August/September 2019 drop ewe lambs weighing 34kgs sold for $158.
Merino ewe hoggets made $176 to $276, to average $228, up $26. The top price was paid for a line of 17-18 month-old Egelabra blood hoggets weighing 44kgs from Girilambone Womboin Station at The Marra, NSW. At Toolondo in Victoria, a line of 18-19 month-old ewe hoggets weighing 58kgs sold for $235.
Young Merino ewes make $235
Young Merino ewes 2-4 years-old made $160 to $300 and averaged $235, up $12. The top price was paid for a line of rising three year-old, station mated ewes weighing 67kgs from G. & L. Lewis at Corowa, NSW. A line of rising four year-old ewes weighing 67kgs at Kaniva, Victoria, sold for $275, and at Bungendore in NSW, a line of rising three year-old ewes weighing 54kgs sold for $233 to a Gippsland buyer.
Proven Merino ewes sell to $269
Proven Merino ewes sold from $79 to $269, averaging $197, up $19. The top price was paid for rising five year-old Egelabra blood ewes weighing 66kgs from G. & L. Lewis at Corowa, NSW. At Karoonda in SA, a line of 4-5 year-old Merino ewes weighing 58kgs and scanned in-lamb to White Suffolk rams sold for $257.
Merino wether lambs make $183.50
There was a complete clearance of 6425 Merino wether lambs on AuctionsPlus last week, with lines making $85 to $183.50 and averaging $142, up $25. The top price paid for a line of August/September 2019 drop Ballatherie blood wether lambs weighing 45kgs from B. G. L. E. & S.B. Thomas at Ivanhoe, NSW. A line of August/September 2019 drop wether lambs weighing 27kgs at Longreach, Queensland, sold for $140.50 to a NSW buyer at Narrabri.
The 990 Merino wethers offered on AuctionsPlus last week sold in three lots for an average of $178, up $42. They made $129 to $188, and the top price was paid for a line of rising two year-old Merrignee blood wethers weighing 54kgs at Yass, NSW.
First cross ewe lambs also in strong demand
A 100 pc clearance was also achieved for first cross ewe lambs online last week. They made $187 to $326, averaging $242, a drop of $6. The top price was paid for a line of April/June 2019 drop ewe lambs weighing 60kgs at Forbes, NSW from Choubra Pastoral Trust. The other half of the gate run made $325. At Keith in SA, a line of March/June 2019 drop lambs weighing 54kgs sold for $302.50.
Only two lines of first cross ewes were offered and sold on AuctionsPlus last week. A line of rising two year-old ewes weighing 53kgs at Carinda, NSW, sold for the top price of $295. At Keith in SA, a line of mixed aged ewes weighing 69kgs made $265.
Cleanskin lambs sell to $165
Other highlights on AuctionsPlus last week included shedding breed lambs selling strongly from $131 to $165, to average $153. The top price was paid for a line of October/November 2019 drop Dust’nRain & Amarula blood Dorper mixed sex lambs weighing 35kgs at Menindee, NSW. A line of Australian White/Dorper X mixed sex lambs weighing 35kgs at Karoonda, SA, sold for $157.
Mainland buyers liked Tasmanian offering
There was a total clearance of the 2716 sheep and lambs offered in Tasmania last week. South Australian and Victorian buyers bought 48pc of the offering. Unjoined Merino ewes sold from $79 to $170, averaging $137. The top price was paid for a line of rising four year-old ewes weighing 54kgs at Bruny Island from ‘Indigenous Land Company. A line of White Suffolk/Coopworth mixed sex lambs weighing 41kgs made $171 or 416c/kg lwt.
Online lamb numbers improved
AuctionsPlus’ store lamb numbers improved significantly by 6706 tto 21,105 head. The clearance rose to 99pc. Prices ranged from 388-801c/kg lwt, averaging 506c/kg. Highlights includes:
– – Oct/Nov ’19 drop, 21kg, 1st X Border Leicester/Merino mixed sex store lambs from WALCHA, NSW sold for $171.50 or 801c live
– – Aug/Sept ’19 drop, 27kg, 2nd X Poll Dorset mixed sex store lambs from COOMA, NSW sold for $162 or 602c live
– – Sept/Oct ’19 drop, 27kg, 2nd White Suffolk mixed sex suckers from WELLINGTON, NSW sold for $162 or 595c live
– – Jul/Aug ’19 drop, 27kg, 2nd X Composite mixed sex lambs from YOUNG, NSW sold for $152 or 548c live
– – Jul/Sept ’19 drop, 36kg, 1st X Cashmore Maternal/Composite mixed sex store lambs from PENSHURST, VIC sold for $183 or 508c live
– – Jun/Aug ’19 drop, 40kg, 2nd X Poll Dorset mixed sex store lambs from COOTAMUNDRA, NSW sold for $197.50 or 493c live
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