These scanned in-lamb 20-21 month-old first cross ewes sold for $426 on AuctionsPlus last week.

BREEDING sheep prices continued at high levels, albeit with some corrections, in a bigger online AuctionsPlus offering last week.

Scanned in-lamb first cross ewes sold to $426, young joined Merino ewes made to $331 and unjoined Merino ewe lambs offered in Western Australia peaked at $321, as eastern states buyers dominated WA offerings.

Sheep numbers rose for the second consecutive week, increasing by 8864 head to 100,289. Clearance dropped considerably to 74 percent, a dip of 13pc and perhaps an indication of apprehension in the market, AuctionsPlus said.

Prices in most stock categories corrected downward, with the biggest decrease being reported for first cross ewe lambs, whose average price fell by $15 to $287. Prices for scanned in-lamb first cross ewes fell by $9 to an average of $392, reducing some of the major gains the stock category reported last week.

Merino ewe lambs reported the only considerable increase in value averaging $239, up $16.

South-west Victorian producers provided the largest portion of the catalogue, with just under 18,000 head listed, followed by 12,000 head from New South Wale’s Riverina region.

Spurred on by more recent rainfall, central west NSW was again the highest purchasing region, securing just under 25,000 head, as producers in the area continue to rebuild flocks devastated in 2019.

In April, central west NSW purchased more than double the numbers of any other region on AuctionsPlus, with more than 76,000 head secured by users in this area. AuctionsPlus said this highlighted how hard the region was hit and the rebuild phase they now find themselves in, spurred on by the confidence boosting rain which continues to fall.

WA Merino ewe lambs sell for $321 to NSW buyer

These are the WA Merino ewe lambs that sold for $321 to a NSW buyer on AuctionsPlus last week.

Merino ewe lambs increased by $16 to average $239, selling from $145 to $321. The top price was paid for 1200 10-11 month-old lambs at Tammin, WA, with the first-time vendors being blown away by the price paid by a NSW buyer at Barellan going $71 over reserve. The Seymour Park blood ewe lambs were offered as two lines of 600. The weighed 60kgs and carried a 4.5cm fleece.

Merino ewe hoggets sold from $170 to $331 and averaged $261. The top price was paid for 370 22-23 month-old station mated ewes at Geurie, NSW. The MPM blood ewes weighed 55kgs and sold to a NSW buyer at Cumnock.

Young Merino breeders, 2-4 years-old, sold from $175 to $330 and averaged $259. The top price was paid for 296 scanned in-lamb three year-old Merino ewes at Brewarrina, NSW. The Bungulla blood ewes weighed 56kgs, had a 7cm fleece and were in-lamb to Poll Merino rams.

Proven Merino breeders, four years and older, sold from $160 to $325 and averaged $228. The top price was paid for 195 scanned in-lamb 4.5 year-old Poll Merino ewes at Booleroo Centre in South Australia. The Mernowie blood ewes were joined to Poll Dorset rams, carried 1cm fleece and weighed 79kgs. They sold to a SA buyer at Millicent.

Merino wether lambs make $201

Merino wether lambs averaged $151 on AuctionsPlus last week, selling from $123 to $201. The top price was paid for 225 6-7 month-old Greendale blood wether lambs at Cooma, NSW. They weighed 38kgs and carried a 5cm fleece.

Merino wethers sold from $146 to $183 and averaged $161. The top price was paid for 230 20-21 month-old Moorundie Park and Gundar blood wethers at Nullawil, VIC. The wethers weighed 53kgs and had a 4cm fleece.

Scanned first cross ewes make $426

First cross ewe lambs averaged $265, selling from $173 to $311. The top price was paid for 220 June-July 2019 drop ewe lambs at Trundle, NSW. The lambs weighed 44kgs and were sold to a NSW buyer at Young.

First cross ewes sold from $190 to $426 and averaged $346. The top price was paid for 202 20-21 month-old ewes at Mangoplah, NSW, that were scanned in lamb to Poll Dorset rams. The Tara Park/Wattle Farm blood ewes weighed 61kgs and sold to a NSW buyer at Taralga.

WA offering sells to NSW buyers

AuctionsPlus offered 8701 head in Western Australia last week, returning solid results and with the entire offering selling to NSW buyers. The offering of Merino ewe lambs averaged $252, selling from $191 to $321. A line of Merino ewe lambs at Meckeringa, WA, weighing 39kg sold for $240 to a NSW buyer at Forbes.

Scanned in-lamb Merino ewes sold from $165 to $275, averaging $220. The top price was paid for a line of rising 3-4 year-old Claypan blood Merino ewes weighing 71kg and scanned in-lamb to Poll Merino rams at Quairdaing, WA. They sold to a Deniliquin buyer. A line of May-June 2019 drop Kingtail Park Dohne ewe lambs at Needilup, WA, weighing 48kg sold for $200.

Tasmanian store lambs sell to $178

AuctionsPlus’ Tasmanian sheep sale reported a 94pc clearance of the 3849 head offered. Highlights included 126 Poll Dorset-composite cross August-September 2019 drop lambs from Mole Creek making the top price of $178. The lambs weighed 45kgs liveweight and sold to a Whitemore buyer. At Sheffield, 450 September 2019 drop store lambs weighing 39kgs sold for $176.

Fewer store lambs offered

There were 17,642 store lambs offered on AuctionsPlus last week, 5029 fewer. Prices ranged from 370-691c/kg liveweight, to average 496c/kg, down 46c on the previous week. Highlights included:

–              Jul/Aug 19’ – 25kg 1st X Border Leicester/Merino mixed sex store lambs from GRENFELL, New South Wales sold for $170 or 691c

–              Sept/Oct 19’ – 30kg 2ND X Poll Dorset/ Border Leicester mixed sex store lambs from BOMBALA, New South Wales sold for $176 or 587c.

–              Jun/Aug 19’ – 43kg 1st X Charolais/Merino mixed sex store lambs from JANDOWAE, Queensland for $160 or 370c

–              Oct/Nov 19’ – 41kg 1st X White Suffolk/Merino mixed sex store lambs from MURRAY BRIDGE, South Australia sold for $175 or 428c