These scanned in-lamb Merino ewes at Guyra, NSW, sold for $284 on AuctionsPlus last week

SCANNED in-lamb Merino ewes were in strong demand on AuctionsPlus last week as the national online sheep and lamb offering fell by 27,849 head to 43,054.

AuctionsPlus said most average prices changed little from the previous week, apart from those paid for the older scanned in-lamb Merino ewes.

AuctionsPlus said proven Merino ewes, four years and older, sold from $175 to $284, to average $232, up $52 on the previous week.

The top price was paid for a line of 156 4-7 year-old early August shorn Merino ewes at Guyra, New South Wales, that were scanned in-lamb as all carrying multiple embryos to Border Leicester rams and due to lamb in early September. The ewes weighed 59.3kg and carried a 6.5cm fleece. They were offered by A.D. & C.E. McRae.

Average prices for Merino hoggets also increased by $20 to $222, within a range of $168 to $264. The top price was paid for a line 18-19 month-old recently shorn Brooklands blood hoggets, scanned in-lamb to White Suffolk rams and weighing 52kgs from M.H. Mclean at Moora, Victoria.

Young Merino ewes, 2-4 years-old, sold from $160 to $322 and averaged $233. The top price went to a line of recently shorn three year-old Pemcaw blood ewes offered by the Jarba Partnership at Narromine, NSW. The ewes were scanned in-lamb to Bor5der Leicester rams and weighed 55kgs.

Merino ewe lambs sold from $179 to $230 and averaged $203, up $8. The top price was paid for a line of August/ September 2019 drop Gullengamble blood ewe lambs from ‘Old Redbank’ at Molong, NSW, that weighed 49kgs and had 4cm fleeces.

South-west Victorian buyers focus on crossbred lambs

Buyers from south-west Victoria were the most successful purchasers, securing 3909 head, mostly crossbred lambs. Central Western NSW buyers were after Merino ewes and ewe lambs, and southern Queensland buyers were chasing goats and shedding breed lambs.

Merino wether lambs sold from $99 to $170, averaging $130, to be firm. The top price was paid for a line of June/August 2019 drop Yanko blood wethers from the Clare Partnership at Hay, NSW. The wethers weighed 55kgs and had 4cm fleeces. Another highlight was a line of August/September 2019 drop Marlu blood wether lambs from Lubeck in Victoria that made $143. The off-shears wethers weighed 52kgs.

First cross ewes with lambs sell to $406

First cross ewe lambs sold from $251 to $294, averaging $274, down $3. The top price went to a line of August/September 2019 drop lambs weighing 44kgs from E.R. & S.M. Kelly at Forbes, NSW.

First cross ewes sold to a top of $289, for a line of 5-6 year-old ewes scanned in-lamb to White Suffolk rams and offered by G.W. & R.M. Munsie at Uralla, NSW. They weighed 72kgs

First cross ewes with lambs sold from $200 to $406 and averaged $329. The top price was paid for a line 2-5 year-old ewes with 4-8 week-old Poll Dorset and White Suffolk lambs that weighed 19kg. The ewes weighed 61kgs and were offered by the Brunsdon Pastoral Co at Wagga Wagga, NSW.

Tasmania producers offered just one lot last week. A line of August/September 2019 drop first cross ewe lambs weighing 48kgs from ‘Strathburn’ at Andover sold for $245 to a local buyer.

Store lamb offering increased

AuctionsPlus’ store lamb offering increased to 7548 head last week and 88 percent were sold. Prices ranged from 276-673c/kg liveweight and averaged 436c/kg. Highlights included:

–              Poll Dorset crosses, 30kg, 673c/kg or $138, March/April 2020, Echuca, VIC

–              White Suffolk crosses, 28kg, 654c/kg or $128.50, May 2020, Western Flat, SA

–              White Suffolk crosses 30kg, for 535c/kg or $165, March/April 2020, Mendooran, NSW

–              White Suffolk crosses 27kg 512c/kg or $126, April/May 2020, Parrakie, SA

–              Poll Dorset crosses, 24kg, 476c/kg or $120.50, March/April 2020, Echuca, VIC

–              Poll Dorset crosses, 36kg, 459c/kg or $145.50, Feb/Mar 2020, Rye Park, NSW

Goat sale clears offering

AuctionsPlus cleared an offering of 2020 goats last week. A line of 8-9 month-old Boer and Boer cross wether kids weighing 38kgs at Narrabri, NSW, sold for $158. The same vendor also sold a line of 11-12 month-old Boer and Boer cross does weighing 36kgs for $349.50. At Ivanhoe in NSW, a line of 6-36 month-old rangeland does weighing 33kgs sold for $163. At Hay in NSW, a line of mixed sex 3-14 month-old rangeland goats weighing 18kgs sold for $110.