These 8-9 month-old unjoined White Dorper ewe lambs (630) at Tilpa in NSW sold for $272 on AuctionsPlus last week.

EWE and wether prices improved, but lamb values were firm to lower on AuctionsPlus last week.

There was a larger offering of 90,322 sheep and lambs in the second week of 2024 sales, with demand falling to a still healthy clearance rate of 80 percent.

AustrionsPlus said the larger offering resulted in falls for average value over reserve levels and the crossbred lamb average price, although the AuctionsPlus Restocker Lamb Indicator jumped a further 19c/kg carcase weight.

The market mostly responded strongly to the larger overall offering, with 10 categories rising on last week’s price levels and four falling. The falls were mostly led by lamb categories and AuctionsPlus attributed this to the larger offerings. Producers offered 30,403 crossbred lambs and 14,833 Merino wether lambs.

AuctionsPlus offered 8927 joined ewes and 24,597 unjoined ewes, and prices strengthened for most categories.

AuctionsPlus said processors were active, securing about 5pc of the lambs and sheep offered. Processors were mainly active on Merino types, purchasing older wethers and ewe hoggets. Crossbred lambs were also keenly sought. Processors looked interstate to fill orders, with plenty of stock movement between Tasmania, Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales.

The average price for crossbred lambs fell $9 to $108 and 80pc were sold. At Snowtown in South Australia, 320 July/August 2023 drop White Suffolk cross mixed sex lambs weighing 43kg lwt sold for $133/head or 313c/kg.

The Merino wether lambs sold from $46 to $120 last week and averaged $68 – falling $5. Demand was strong with an 87pc clearance and a $9 average value over reserve. At Naracoorte in South Australia, 740 March/April 2023 drop Poll Merino wethers weighing 44kg lwt made $119, or 270c/kg.

Merino ewes were keenly sought, with AuctionsPlus selling 90pc of the 9590 offered. The average price rose $22 to $100. At Tottenham in NSW, 150 2.5 year-old Merino ewes weighing 70kg sold for $174/head.

Note: Prices as at 5pm Thursday, 19th January 2024

Source – AuctionsPlus.