These two year-old scanned in-lamb PrimeLine ewes at Galong in New South Wales sold for $252 on AuctionsPlus last week.

EWE prices showed the most improvement on AuctionsPlus last week, as commercial sheep and lamb listings halved to 18,879 head.

AuctionsPlus said the wet and cold conditions impacted listings.

Despite the smaller yarding, demand was subdued with clearances remaining firm on the previous week at 55 percent and Value Over Reserve lifting by $8 to average $20.

Overall, prices lifted where a comparison could be made, in particular strong rises were recorded in the joined ewe market, while lamb prices remained relatively stable, AuctionsPlus said.

The deficit in listings was felt in the lamb and joined ewe lines with both categories dropping by more than 50pc from the previous week. At state level, all states recorded 50pc-plus declines in listings, accounting for the third lowest yarding since 2016.

Crossbred lamb listings halved to 2629 head, with the smaller yarding resulting in prices increasing by $2 to average $88/head – for an 85pc clearance. At Bombala in New South Wales, 640 September/November 2022 drop mixed sex White Suffolk cross lambs weighing 38kg sold for $110/head, or 292c/kg lwt.

AuctionsPlus sold all 1051 first cross ewe lambs offered, with the average price decreasing by $49 to $94. At Rugby in NSW, 475 October/November 2022 drop ewe lambs weighing 32kg lwt made $95, or 297c/kg, with a buyer in Culcairn, NSW.

Prices lifted for the 1246 Merino ewes offered, with the average rising $20 to $114/head. At Delegate in NSW, 390 21-22 month-old SIL ewes weighing 50kg sold for $102 to a buyer in Mummel, NSW.

Only 37pc of the 2111 scanned in-lamb first cross ewes sold, for an average price of $172, up $40. At Illabarook in Victoria, 270 4.5 year-old ewes weighing 84kg sold for $226 to a buyer in Naracoorte, South Australia.

Note: Prices as at 5pm Thursday, 13th July 2023

Source – AuctionsPlus.