AUCTIONSPLUS’ sheep and lamb clearance rate dropped by more than 10 percent last week as the dry conditions across eastern Australia affected store stock demand.

AuctionsPlus market operations supervisor Tom Rookyard said online sheep and lamb listings also dropped by just over 10,000 head last week, with 34,271 offered.

“Dry conditions over much of Eastern Australia have impacted the store market, with clearance dipping to 71pc across sales.

“Conditions are also limiting supply across all marketplaces of properly finished prime stock, and the cost of supplementary feeding to attain slaughter weight and condition is tightening margins significantly,” he said.

AuctionsPlus’ overall sheep and lamb clearance rate the previous week was 84pc.

Processors compete for crossbred lamb offering

Processors again bid strongly on suitable crossbred lines offered online. A line of crossbred lambs expected to dress 35kg with a 7.5cm fleece at Goulburn in New South Wales was chased by three processors, and sold for 634c/kg cwt, including skin value.

Merino ewe lambs last week sold from $95.50 to a top of $150.50, averaging $108, $11 down on the previous week. The top price line was paid for a line of March/April drop, Gum Hill blood Poll Merino lambs at Peterborough in South Australia. Merino hoggets sold from $125 to $145, with an average of $134.50.

Grown scanned in-lamb Merino ewes sold from $65 to $182, and averaged of $133, up $5 from the previous week. Merino ewes with lambs old to $196 for 201 mid-February shorn 3-7 year-old ewes  with 227 White Suffolk lambs at Robertstown, SA.

Merino wether lambs average $98

Merino wether lambs this week averaged $95, up $7. The lamb offering was topped by a line of Severn Park and Mumblebone blood, July/August drop lambs at Cassilis, NSW. The lambs weighed 46kg and had a 4cm fleece and sold for $128.50. Merino hoggets sold to $85 for a line of 20-21 month-old Petali Poll Merino blood wethers at Walcha, NSW.

The top price in the small offering of first cross ewes was $180 for a line of 16 to 21 month old ewes, scanned in-lamb to White Suffolk rams at Coonabarabran, NSW. A line of 70kg two year-old composite/Merino cross ewes and lambs at Burrumbuttock, NSW, sold for $280. Other crossbred highlights included, July August drop Primeline ewe lambs at Uranquinty, NSW selling for $230. These were scanned in-lamb to Primeline rams.

Store lamb highlights

–    Aug/Sept-17, drop, 2ndX White Suffolk Mixed Sex Trade Lambs, weighing 53.1kgs, from AVOCA Tasmania, sold for $157

–    Sept/Oct-17, drop, Poll Dorset/Merino Mixed Sex Lambs, weighing 37.6kgs, from COOLAC New South Wales, sold for $114.5

–    Sept/Nov-17, drop, Border Leicester/Merino Mixed Sex Suckers, weighing 32.2kgs, from WELLINGTON New South Wales, sold for $111

–    Sept/Oct-17, drop, 2ndX Poll Dorset Mixed Sex Suckers, weighing 33.4kgs, from WELLINGTON New South Wales, sold for $108

–    Nov/Dec-17, drop, Border Leicester/Merino Mixed Sex Suckers, weighing 27.4kgs, from WELLINGTON New South Wales, sold for $100

–    Jul/Aug-17, drop, Suffolk/Merino Mixed Sex Lambs, weighing 28.9kgs, from WOODSIDE Victoria, sold for $90

–    Aug/Sept-17, drop, 2ndX Poll Dorset Mixed Sex Lambs, weighing 33.3kgs, from WALCHA New South Wales, sold for $85

Source: AuctionsPlus.