These April-May 2021 drop Merino wether lambs weighing 42.1kgs sold for $170 at Loxton in South Australia on AuctionsPlus last week.

CROSSBRED and Merino wether lamb prices held up despite increased numbers contributing to AuctionsPlus last week listing its largest offering of sheep and lambs this year.

AuctionsPlus overall online sheep and lamb offering increased 32pc last week to total 150,503 head.

In September, AuctionsPlus offered more than 593,000 commercial sheep and lambs – well above throughput levels from 2020 and indicative of a prosperous winter lambing season.

Widespread rain across much of the eastern seaboard during the week incentivized both buyers and sellers to trade new season lambs – with 92,545 lambs offered. Results were mixed across the board with three of the six lamb categories averaging higher than the previous week. Central Western NSW was the top purchasing region, securing 34,254 head whilst the NSW Riverina and NW Victoria secured 11,520 and 6,411 head, respectively.

Crossbred lambs comprised of 22pc of the total listings this week, with the offering rising 25pc to 33,112 head. AuctionsPlus said robust demand lifted the clearance rate to 91pc and the average price of $164/head was $1 higher than the previous week.

Merino wether lamb numbers increased by 46pc to 41,401 head. They made up 28pc of the catalogue, but the clearance rate dropped to 71pc. The average price held relatively firm at $138/head, down $2.

First cross ewe lamb numbers held firm at 9278 head, but the average price dipped by $18 to $294/head as demand softened to record a 76pc clearance.

The offering of Merino ewe lambs contracted 46pc to 2452 head. The clearance rate lifted to 96pc as the average price rose $44 to $266/head. The top price for the category of $350 was paid for 900 Merino ewe lambs sold in three lines at Karoonda in South Australia. The ewes weighed an average of 66.7kg and went to buyers in South Australia and New South Wales.

Joined ewe numbers remained steady at 6662 head across the seven categories. Station mated shedding breed ewes had the largest offering of 2992 head. The category’s clearance rose to 71pc and the average price dropped $50 to $296/head.

Unjoined ewe listings increased, led by an offering of 19,203 Merino ewe hoggets, a 40pc rise over the previous week. The category’s clearance rate held steady at 68pc, with ewes making $190-$400 and averaging $2 less at $289/head. Topping the category was 600 head of June/July 2020 drop Merino ewes from Marnoo in Victoria. The Glndemar blood ewes eighed 53.7kgs and were sold in three even lots to buyers in south-west Victoria and central western NSW.

NOTE: Prices as at 5pm, Thursday 30th September, 2021