These April-May 2024 drop Poll Dorset cross lambs weighing 35.7kg at Bingara in NSW sold for $170 or 994c a kg on AuctionsPlus last week.

PRICES for mixed sex crossbred, Merino wether and first cross ewe lambs improved as the overall online sheep and lamb offering on AuctionsPlus fell 41 percent to 29,166 head.

The overall clearance rate dipped 5pc at 83pc, possibly driven by the tightening of the new season lamb offerings after the previous week’s yarding boom.

AuctionsPlus said the crossbred lamb indicator reflected an advantage in price in response to the smaller offering averaging $148/head, up 25pc. The AuctionsPlus Restocker Lamb indicator rose 53c/kg to average 798c/kg dressed.

The value over reserve held steady to averaged $12 over set reserves. Lots that sold during the auction averaged $17/head above reserve at $150/head, with the figure slightly above post-auction transactions.

AuctionsPlus said the new season lamb offerings took their foot of the throttle from the previous week’s surge, with a total of 14,549, down 61pc from 37,195 head. This category made up half of the total yarding. New season lambs achieved a 98pc clearance rate, up from 94pc. The average price rose $12 to $128/head.

Listings decreased significantly in New South Wales, with numbers down 13,974 from last week. Queensland maintained a strong recovery in numbers and was the only state to have increased in numbers from last week. Listings in South Australia, took a dive with 5098 fewer listed than the previous week, bringing the total to 1973 head offered.

The NSW Riverina remained the highest listing region. The region’s offering of 12,085 head equated to 41pc of the week’s total sheep and lamb offerings across the platform.

AuctionsPlus offered 5361 crossbred lambs, down 73pc, with prices powering up to average $148, up $118. The number of Merino wether lambs offered fell 31pc to 9860, and the average price paid rose $4 to $115.

At Bingara in NSW, 150 April/May drop mixed sex Poll Dorset cross lambs weighing 44kg lwt sold for $178/head, or 405c/kg, to a buyer in Attunga, NSW.

AuctionsPlus sold 67pc of the 2125 first cross ewe lambs offered for an average price of $188, up $57. At Euchareena in NSW, 210 September/October 2023 drop first cross ewe lambs weighing 59kg lwt made $241/head, or 408c/kg, with a buyer in Coonamble, NSW.

Unjoined Merino ewe hoggets averaged $82/head, down $58, for the 1725 head offered.

Note: Prices as at 5pm Thursday, September 5, 2024.