JOINED Merino ewes sold to $265 and scanned in-lamb first cross ewes made $251 on AuctionsPlus last week.

Online sheep and lamb listings lifted last week to a total of 98,423 head, 21,329 more.

Merino ewes made up 40 percent of the offering, or 36,969 head. A large boost in lamb numbers also contributed to the week’s larger offering, with crossbred lots drawing the most buyer competition.

Merino ewe lamb numbers and prices were down last week. Prices peaked at $98.50 for 540 8-10 month-old Mullengudgery blood ewes from the Lakemere Pastoral Co at Bourke in New South Wales.

Merino hogget prices remained firm on the previous week, averaging $141 and reaching $164. The top price was paid for 126 16-17 month-old Woodpark blood ewes at ‘Amaroo’ near Nyngan, NSW. Overall, unjoined Merino breeders averaged $116.

Young joined Merino breeders sold to a top of $265 and averaged $159, and proven breeders topped at $202, averaging $136. The top-price of $265 was paid for 238 Firgrove blood 2-3 year-old ewes, weighing 77 kgs lwt that were scanned in-lamb to White Suffolk rams, at Bungalally in Victoria. Proven breeders were topped by Jindalee Trading’s 179 4-5 year-old ewes, scanned in-lamb to White Suffolk rams, at Mundulla in SA.

Merino ewes with lambs to $270

A line of 280 two year-old Merino ewes and lambs at ‘Tollygunge’ near Mathoura, NSW, sold for $270. The lambs were sired by Border Leicester rams and ewes have been running back with Border Leicester rams.

Merino wether lamb prices lifted slightly online last week, averaging $93 and selling from $67-$124.50. This top price went to 420 Cottage Park blood, 4-5 month-old unshorn wethers weighing in at 40 kgs from ‘Llangrove’ at Cooma, NSW. Merino hoggets sold to $103 and grown wethers made up to $100.

First cross ewes to $251

First cross ewe lambs sold exceptionally well this week, averaging $162 and selling to $221.50 for a line of 8-9 month-old, 53 kg ewes from ‘Yirdeen’ at Lockhart, NSW. Grown first cross ewes averaged $195 and sold to a top price of $251 for 510 three year-old ewes scanned in-lamb to White Suffolk rams from ‘Jindalee Trading at Mundulla in SA.

Crossbred lambs sell to $126.50

Crossbred lamb sale highlights included a line of 40kg lwt Poll Dorset/Composite mixed sex lambs, from Poligolet Holdings at Derrinallum in Victoria that sold for $126.50.

A line of 40kg first cross wethers from ‘Wahroonga’ at Gunnedah, NSW, sold for $108. A lighter line of 1000 Poll Dorset cross mixed sex lambs, weighing 33kgs, from ‘Top of the Hill’ at Berridale, NSW, sold for $116. A line of 690 first cross wethers weighing 30kg from ‘Binnowee’ at Euchareena in NSW made $95.