These 760 September-November drop White Suffolk cross lambs, 13.5kg cwt and mostly score 3, sold for $94 at Matheson NSW on AuctionsPLus last week.

ONLINE sheep and lamb offerings increased last week as trade and heavy slaughter lamb prices eased in New South Wales saleyards on Friday.

Light lambs continued to sell well, online and in saleyards, recording the biggest gain of all lamb categories for the week, according to the National Livestock Reporting Service.

Auctionsplus offered 73,917 sheep and lambs last week, 8053 more, as temperatures soared above average in the eastern states.

Merino ewe hoggets attracted strong buyer activity, selling from $70-$183 and averaging $125. The top priced 220 17-18 month-old late March shorn Wilandra blood ewes, 61.3kg lwt and score 3, were joined to Border Leicester rams at Coolamon, NSW.

Proven Merino proven breeders made $65-$149. The top priced line of 355 late October shorn ewes at Caldwell NSW, 65.8kg lwt and mostly score 2 and 3, were 149 percent scanned in lamb to Border Leicester rams. A Cumnock NSW breeder sold 800 16-17 month-old early February shorn Merino ewes, 46.2kg lwt and mostly score 2 and 3, and scanned in lamb 100pc to Poll Dorset rams, for $150.

The numerous Merino wether lambs offered sold from $58-$93 and averaged $71. The top-priced lot were 9-10 month-old late September shorn Pooginook blood wether lambs, 18.2kg cwt and mostly score 1 and 2, at Peak Hill, NSW.

AuctionsPlus store lambs sell to $113

These mid-February shorn August drop Poll Dorset cross lambs, 19.2kg cwt and mostly score 2, sold for $113 at Holbrook, NSW, on AuctionsPlus last week.

Store lambs under 25 kg lwt sold from $51-$74 to average $63; the 26-28kg lambs made $74-$89 to average $80; 30-33kg lambs sold from $74.50-$103 to average $92; 34-36kg lines sold from $78-$96.50 to average $90; 37-40kg lambs made $96-$112 to average $106, and heavy lambs over 40kg lwt made $101.50-$113 to average $107.

First cross Border Leicester/Merino ewe lambs attracted strong buyer interest, averaging $126 and selling from $101-$161. The top-priced line of 352 mid-October shorn 8-9 months old lambs, 5.8kg lwt and score 3, were at Armatree, NSW. Mixed aged first cross ewes also sold well, with 508 mid-August shorn 2.5-6.5 year-olds in two lots, 75kg lwt and mostly score 2 and 3, and 100pc scanned in lamb to Poll Dorsets at Tamworth, NSW, making $172. A line of 140 8-9 month old Australian White-White Dorper cross ewe lambs, 47.3kg lwt and score 3, at Tottenham, NSW, made $170.

A line of 166 proven 2.5-3.5 year-old late October shorn Coopworth breeders, 73.7kg lwt and mostly score 3 and 4, and 153pc scanned in lamb to Poll Dorsets, made $187 at Ararat. Their ewe hogget sisters made $147 and $182, and a second line of 2.5-3.5 year-olds sold for $152.

Light lamb indicator jumped 13 cents last week

After Friday’s saleyard sales, the Eastern States Daily Indicator rates for lamb, and the category’s weekly changes were: restocker 548c/kg, up 2 cents, down 3c; Merino 492c/kg, down 5c, down 3c; light 530c/kg, up 1c, up 13c; trade 530c/kg, down 1c, up 1c; heavy 530c/kg, down 1c, up 4c. The national trade lamb indicator fell 3 cents to 529c/kg and the heavy indice closed down 2 cents to 530c/kg.

The ESDI and national indicators for mutton finished the week on 315c/kg.

Cowra’s trade and heavy lambs dip $5-$6

In New South Wales at the Cowra saleyards on Friday, the agents yarded 8150 lambs, 180 more than last week, and 2100 sheep, 680 more.

The NLRS said the quality of the well-finished heavy lambs was very good. However, more lambs showing signs of dryness were yarded. Most were heavy lambs, trade weight drafts were limited and there were plenty of store lines. All the usual buyers attended, except for one, and competition was easier, resulting in a cheaper trend.

Light lambs sold to processors averaged $100. Store lambs were $3 dearer and mainly sold from $88-$105. Medium and heavy trade weights were $5-$6 cheaper and mostly sold from 530-540c/kg cwt. Most of the trade weight lambs made $115-$125. Heavy weight lambs were firm to $3 cheaper and most sold from 500-518c/kg. Several of extra heavies sold from $140-$174.

Sheep quality was mixed. Medium Merino ewes were $2 dearer and averaged $76 or 292c/kg. Heavy first cross ewes were $3 dearer and most made $78-$93 or 260-280c/kg.

Griffith’s trade lambs firm to $2 easier

At the Griffith saleyards on Friday, the agents yarded 7200 lambs, 1700 fewer than last week, and 1600 sheep, 1000 less.

The NLRS said lamb quality was similar to previous sales. A good number of well-finished lambs was offered, along with plainer drier types. Most lambs were heavy and extra heavy weights. The usual buyers competed in a firm to easier market.

Light lambs held firm and averaged $104. Trade weights were firm to $2 easier at $105-$129. Heavy and extra heavy weight lambs held steady. Heavy lambs sold from $128-$148 and extra heavies ranged from $141-$179. Carcase prices mostly ranged from 502-545c/kg. Heavy and trade weight Merino lambs sold from $107-$155.

The sheep were mostly mixed quality Merinos. Prices lifted, with Merino ewes selling from $70-$109. Crossbred ewes made $82-$114 and Dorper ewes $73-$99.

Source: MLA, NLRS, AuctionsPlus.