These 22-24 month-old first cross ewes and their lambs at SHepparton in Victoria sold for $390 on AuctionsPlus last week.

A 30 percent lift in AuctionsPlus sheep and lamb offerings was supported by strong restocker and processor demand last week.

AuctionsPlus offered 62,114 head on its online saleyard platform and the increased listings were met by strong demand, reflected in a 77pc clearance.

Highlights last week included first cross ewes with lambs selling for up to $390, Merino ewes lamb making up to $234 and Merino wethers selling to $142.

Grown Merino wethers sell to $142

A Victorian buyer paid $136 for a line of 22-23 months old Roselea (Muckadilla) blood wethers weighing 52kg and with a 4cm fleece at Illfracombe in Queensland. Wether hoggets averaged $127, selling from $120.5 to $136. Grown wethers sold from $95 to $181, averaging $148.

Merino wether lambs sold from $90 to $142, averaging $127, up $7 on the previous week. The top price was paid for a line of August/Sept 2018 drop Springvale North blood store wether lambs at Orroroo, South Australia. The lambs weighed 40kg and had a 4cm fleece.

At Warialda in New South Wales, a line of September/October 2018 drop Collarenebri and Nerstane blood store wether lambs weighing 30kg and with a 5cm fleece skin sold for $128.

Merino ewe lambs peak at $234

Merino ewe lambs sold from $92 to $234, averaging $160, up $25 on the previous week. The top price was paid for a line of July/August 2018 drop Gum Hill blood lambs at Booleroo Centre, SA. The ewe lambs weighed 45kg and had a 2cm fleece. At Bathurst, NSW, a line of September 2018 drop Nanena blood ewe lambs weighing 34kg sold for $132.50 to a Victorian buyer at Delacombe.

Merino ewe hoggets sold from $87 to $280, averaging firm at $178. The top price was paid for a line line of two year-old Pastora blood ewes at Yerong Creek, NSW, scanned in-lamb to White Suffolk rams. The ewes weighed 53kg and had a 2.5cm fleece.

At Balranald, NSW, a line of 13-14 month-old Wallaloo Park blood ewe hoggets weighing 56kgs sold for $225 to a buyer at Bendigo in Victoria. Two lines of 21 month-old Yalgoo blood ewes at Casterton in Victoria weighing 32kg and with 2.5cm fleeces sold for $88 to a buyer in Tasmania.

Young Merino ewes 2-4 years-old averaged $186, selling from $130 to $230. Proven 4-7 year-old Merino ewes sold from $91 to $237, averaging $159. At Mungindi in Queensland a line of 4-5 year-old Bullawarrie blood ewes scanned in-lamb to Merino rams sold for $186 a NSW buyer at Cobar, NSW. The ewes weighed 52kgs and had a 4.5cm fleece. Other Merino highlights last week included 5 year-old White River blood ewes with 2-10 week White Suffolk lambs at Lucindale, SA, making $180. The ewes and weighed 48kg and had a 4.5 fleece.

First cross ewes with lambs sell to $390

First cross ewe lambs averaged $200 on AuctionsPlus last week, $15 down, and ranged from $119 to $290. At Warren, NSW, a line of Mar/May 2018 drop first cross ewe lambs weighing 25kg sold for $203 to a buyer at Willowmavin In Victoria. At Dobie in Victoria, 11-12 month-old first cross ewe lambs scanned in-lamb to White Suffolk rams and weighing 43kg sold for $216.

First cross ewe hoggets sold from $200 to $390, averaging $269. The top price was paid for 113 22-24 month-old first cross ewes with 154 6-12 week-old Poll Dorset lambs at Shepparton in Victoria. The late February shorn ewes weighed 64kg and were mainly score 2 in condition.

At Grenfell in NSW, a line of 14-15 month, unjoined first cross ewes weighing 50kg made $200. Young first cross ewes generally sold from $192 to $290, averaging $246. A line of 2-3 year old ewes scanned in-lamb to Poll Dorset rams at Trundle, NSW, made $261.

Proven first cross breeders averaged $209, selling from $147 to $270. The top price was paid for a line of 6-7 years old ewes weighing 63kg at Western Flat, SA, with 6-10 week old White Suffolk cross lambs.

A line of 2-3 year-old White Dorper ewes Deniliquin, NSW, scanned in-lamb to Dorper and Australian White rams sold for $226. The ewes weighed 62kg and sold to Queensland buyer at Augathella, 1300km to the north. At Rocklands in Victoria, a line of July/August 2018 drop composite ewe lambs weighing 45kg sold for $169 to a SA buyer.

Store lamb listings peak

Store lamb listings increased 66pc to 9658 head following strong prices the previous week. Demand for lambs was also strong, with a 95pc clearance achieved.

Top prices included:

–              Mar/Apr-19, 33kg Poll Dorset cross suckers from Tarcutta New South Wales sold for $170.50 or 526c/kg live

–              Feb/Mar-19, 35kg first cross mixed sex suckers from Hillston New South Wales sold for $170 or 504c/kg live

–              Mar/May-19, 37kg Dorset Horn cross suckers from Wellington New South Wales sold for $169 or 481c/kg live

–              Mar/Apr-19, 37kg White Suffolk cross lambs from Gulargambone New South Wales sold for $165 or 466c/kg live

–              Sep/Oct-18, 38kg  composite store lambs from Branxholme Victoria sold for $165 or 440c/kg live

–              Aug/Nov-18, 41kg Dorper mixed sex lambs from Morven Queensland sold for $158 or 402c/kg live

–              Aug/Oct-18, 35kg composite cross store lambs from Coolah New South Wales sold for $160 or 464c/kg live