A FALL in online sheep and lamb listings helped clearance rates on AuctionsPlus last week.

Stock agents offered 49,990 sheep and lambs on AuctionsPlus last week, a fall of 9573 head, but a 75 percent clearance rate was reached.

The Riverina was the most active region online for the third consecutive week, purchasing 6699 head and targeting mainly Merino ewes and ewe lambs. Central Western New South Wales was also active, buying 6691 head, consisting of Merino wethers & wether lambs, Merino ewes & ewe lambs and Crossbred lambs.

Merino ewe lambs sell to $198.50

AuctionsPlus said a large percentage of the listings consisted of Merino ewes and ewe lambs, with 20,967 head offered and 70pc finding new owners. Ewe lambs were in short supply, with 2300 head offered. This increased demand and boosted the clearance rate to 85pc, with lots selling from $80 to $198.50 and averaging $142, down $7 on the previous week. The top price was achieved by a line of 45kg, Austral Eden blood, future breeder ewe lambs, from Tallimba, NSW.

Young Merino ewes peak at $236.50

Merino ewe hoggets sold from $150 to $200 and averaged $173, steady on the previous week. The top price was achieved by a line of 174 Banavie blood SIL ewes, 22 to 24 months, joined to composite rams, weighing 55kg. These ewes made up part of a flock dispersal by L & M Roberts, Pomonal VIC.

Young 2 to 4-year-old Merino breeders sold from $115 to a top of $236.50, averaging $173, up $18 on last week. Proven breeders (4-7 years) sold from $80 to a top of $240, averaging $157, down $9 on last week. A line of 169, 3-year-old SIL ewes from Rugby, NSW sold for $170. Five-year-old, SIL ewes from Warren, NSW sold for $161, weighing 58kg and SIL to Poll Merino rams.

Merino wether lambs sell to $145

A total of 7,593 Merino wether lambs were listed and achieved a 95% clearance. Averaging $102, down $18 on the previous week, the lambs sold from $60 to a top of $145. The top price was achieved by a line of 190 store wether lambs from Norong, VIC, Aug/Sep 18’ drop, weighing 33kg with a 2.5” skin and they will cross the border into Griffith, NSW. Merino wether hoggets achieved 100pc clearance this week, averaging $107, down $12 on last week and selling from $89 to $125. The top price was achieved by a line of 18 to 20-month-old, freshly shorn Wanganella blood wether hoggets from Tullamore, NSW, weighing 39kg. They will make their way to Yarrawonga, VIC.

The online supply of grown wethers last week increased to 2,416 head, with demand also strong selling from $105 to $122, averaging $113. Top price was achieved by a line of 2 to 5-year-old woolgrower wether lambs from Port August, SA, weighing 42kg with 1” skins. Other highlights included two lots of Oct/Nov 18’ drop wether lambs from Southern Tasmania, selling for $60 and crossing the Bass Straight into Yea, VIC, continuing the strong interest from mainland buyers on Tasmanian stock.

First cross ewe lambs sell to $200

Border Leicester/Merino ewe lambs averaged $174, down $29 on last week, selling from $160 to $200. Highlights included a line of Aug/Sept 2018 drop ewe lambs from Bombala, NSW selling for $175, weighing 35kg with a 2” skin. First Cross ewe hoggets sold from $230 to $282, averaging $261, up $17 on last week. Young breeders (2-4 yrs.) sold from $210 to $251, averaging $225, with the top price fetched by a line of 23 to 36-month-old, 73kg SIL ewes from Kieth, SA. Proven breeders (4-7 years) sold from $150 to $210, averaging $188.

Other ewe highlights include, a line of Purebred Dohne SIL Ewes from Walgett, NSW sold for $237, 33 to 34 months, weighing 58kg and will head to Broken Hill, NSW. Into Victoria, a line of 19 to 21-month-old composite SIL ewes weighing 67kg from Pomonal sold for $250.

Store lamb offering slips

Store lamb listings decreased by 4134 head for a total listing of 4469 head. Demand from buyers saw a slight decrease to reach 81pc clearance at auction. Top prices included:

• Aug/Oct 18’, 39kg Primeline mixed sex store lambs from Narromine NSW, sold for $178.5 or 453c/kg live
• July/Aug 18’, 39kg Poll Dorset/Merino mixed sex store lambs from Morundah, NSW, sold for $175.5 or 448c/kg live
• Aug/Sep 18’, 39kg Primeline/Composite mixed sex store lambs from Tumbarumba, NSW sold for $175 or 443c/kg live
• Aug/Sep 18’, 38kg White Suffolk/Merino mixed sex store lambs from Daysdale, NSW sold for $171 or 444c/kg live
• Sep/Oct 18’, 38kg Australian White/Composite mixed sex store lambs from Surat, QLD sold for $150 or 395c/kg live
• Feb/Mar 19’, 25kg White Suffolk/Merino mixed sex store lambs from Dunedoo, NSW sold for $136 or 527c/kg live