COMPETITION for pregnant ewes continued on AuctionsPlus last week, with scanned first cross lines making to $401 and young Merino breeders making to $363.

AuctionsPlus sheep and lamb listings fell by 7496 head to 42,885 last week, after the Easter long weekend.

However, AuctionsPlus said the reduced numbers helped boost clearance rates and prices, with about 90 percent of lines sold, up from 83pc the week before.

AuctionsPlus said this correlated with an upward price trend across majority of stock categories, especially for unjoined Merino ewes whose average price increased $47 to $214.

Central West New South Wales was the most successful purchasing region for the third consecutive week, securing 34pc of the overall catalogue.

Merino ewe hoggets sell to $363

The 1499 Merino ewe lambs offered last week sold from $137 to $256, averaging $194, down $18. The top price was paid for 200 April-May 2019 drop Wallaloo Park blood Merino ewe lambs offered by Condoulpe Pastoral at Balranald, NSW. The lambs weighed 45kgs and carried a 6.25cm fleece. At Wallaloo East in Victoria, 134 April-May 2019 drop Merino ewe lambs weighing 47kgs sold for $205.

Merino ewe hoggets sold for $200 to $363 online last week, averaging $280, down $13. The top price was paid for 111 scanned in-lamb 21-22 month-old Pastora blood Merino ewes weighing 61kgs offered by E.J. Kitto at Tallimba, NSW. The young ewes carried a 4cm fleece and joined to Poll Dorset rams.

AuctionsPlus said young Merino ewes 2-4 years-old were in hot demand, with 91pc of the 1380 head which offered being sold. They sold from $260 to $307 to average $286, up $30. The top price was paid by a South Australian buyer for a run of Keetland Valley blood Merino ewes, scanned in-lamb to Suffolk rams, offerd by the Boxall Family Trust at Marrabel in SA. The young ewes carried a 4cm fleece and weighed 58kgs.

Older scanned Merino ewes make to $297

Proven Merino ewes four years and older proved even more popular, with the entire offering clearing to new buyers. They made from $162 to $297 and averaged $236, down $18. The top price was paid for a line of 5.5-6 year-old Haddon Rig blood Merino ewes scanned in-lamb to White Suffolk rams offered by G.E. & E.H. Barker from Deniliquin, NSW. The ewes weighed 56kgs. Unjoined 20154 drop Merryville/Haddon Rig and Thalabah blood Merino ewes at Bathurst NSW sold for $236. The ewes weigh 52kgs and had a 6.25cm fleece.

Merino wether lamb offering clears

AuctionsPlus sold all of the 11,707 Merino wether lambs offered last week for $94 to $213 for an average of $159, up $4. The top price was paid by a South Australian buyer at Keith for a line of September-November 2019 drop Bundilla blood Poll Merino store wether lambs from the Wellagalong Pastoral Company at Duramana, NSW. The lambs weighed 43kgs and had a 6.25cm fleece. At Canowindra in NSW, 529 May 2019 drop Merino wether lambs weighing 48kgs sold for $182 to a Queensland buyer at Goondiwindi.

Older Merino wethers sold from $125 to $174 to average $165, up $8. The top price was paid by a Victorian buyer at Wangaratta for 442 18-20 months-old Bindawarra blood wethers weighing 52kgs from Chatsworth East at Meerlieuin Victoria. A line of 2-3 year-old Merino wethers weighing 49kgs at Isisford in Queensland sold for $171 to a Victorian buyer at Willowmavin.

First cross ewe prices peak at $401

These 21-23 month-old bare shorn and scanned in-lamb first cross ewes sold for $401 at Avalon in Victoria on AuctionsPlus last week.

AuctionsPlus cleared its first cross ewe lamb offering for firm prices of $250 to $312 and an average of $289. The top price was paid by a NSW buyer at Goulburn for 240 ewe lambs weighing 46kgs and with a 2.5cm fleece from the Wyangle Pastoral Co at Tumut, NSW. Another highlight was a run of 11-12 month-old 50kg ewe lambs at Waubra in Victoria that made $302.

All first cross ewes offered were also sold for from $198 to $401 for an average of $301, down $62. The top price was paid by a NSW buyer at Wagga Wagga for 225 21-23 month-old ewes scanned in-lamb to White Suffolk rams from Tradon Import Export Pty Ltd at Avalon in Victoria. The ewes weighed 68kgs. A line of unjoined 19-20 month-old first cross ewes weighing 50kgs at Wellington, NSW, sold for $322.

White Dorper ewes sell for $316

Other notable highlights last week included 100 April-June 2019 drop joined White Dorper ewes from C.J. & D.L. Milne at Condobolin, NSW, that sold for $316. The ewes weighed 38kgs. At Jerapit in Victoria, 125 21-23 month-old scanned in-lamb Dohne ewes weighing 54kgs sold for $305 to a NSW buyer at Mungindi.

Tasmanian crossbred lambs sell to $189

AuctionsPlus achieved a 95pc clearance of the 513 head offered in Tasmania last week. A line of mixed sex, crossbred August-September 2019 lambs topped the sale at $182. The store lambs weighed 42kgs and were offered by P.R. & M.K. Atkins from Deloraine.

Eastern buyers secure WA ewes

AuctionsPlus offered 3959 sheep and lambs in Western Australia last week, with all lines selling to buyers in SA and NSW restocking following recent rain. Ewe prices ranged from $131 to $304 to average $242. The top price was paid by a NSW buyer at Bimbi for a line of scanned in-lamb 20-21 month-old AMS blood Merino ewes offered by Anameka Farms at Tammin. The ewes weighed 60kgs.

Store lamb numbers increase

AuctionsPlus’ store lamb offering increased by 302 to 4886 head last week. Prices also rose to range from 387-684c/kg liveweight to average 556c/kg, up 48 cents. Highlights included:

– Poll Dorset cross, 29kg, $201 or 684c/kg, Oct-Nov 2019 drop, Taralga, NSAW

– Poll Dorset cross, 30kg, $199 or 663c/kg, Sept-Oct 2019, Mudgee, NSW

– Poll Dorset cross, 29kg, $192 or 662c/kg, Sept/Oct 2019, Guyra, NSW

– Composite, 28kg, $158 or 572c/kg, Oct/Nov 2019 drop, Euroa, Victoria

– White Suffolk cross, 29kg, $158 or 553c/kg, Sept/Nov 2019 drop, Gooramadda, Victoria

– First cross wethers, 37kg, $190 or 521c/kg, Aug/Sept 2019 drop, Holts Flat, NSW