These June-July 2021 drop Primeline-White Suffolk cross ewe lambs weighing 43.6kgs at Young in New South Wales sold for $226 on AuctionsPlus last week.

MOST maternal ewe and Merino lambs averaged cheaper on AuctionsPlus as online buyers bid more strongly for crossbred and composite lambs, and joined ewes, last week.

Four of the six lamb categories recorded a drop in average prices, as crossbred and composite/other breed lambs averaged dearer.

AuctionsPlus said that despite widespread heavy rainfall across much of the eastern states last week, sheep and lamb listings increased by 26 percent to 127,791 head.

Compared to the same week in 2020 – which had the largest sheep throughput for the year — listings were 16 percent lower. The Western Australian offering increased 156pc, with several large offerings of Merino wethers and wether lambs aimed at buyers from the eastern states. Top purchasing regions this week included New South Wale’s central west (17,266 head), NSW’s Riverina (15,654 head) and south-west Victoria (8040 head).

Robust demand for crossbred lambs

Crossbred lambs accounted for 30pc of the catalogue and the 38,134 head were met by robust demand from restockers and processors to achieve an 88pc clearance. Prices for the category ranged from $101-$226, to average $158 – up $4. The NSW Riverina was the top purchasing region for crossbred lambs, securing 6802 head.

Merino wether lambs made up 13pc of listings, at 16,056 head, with prices averaging $134, back $5. Liveweights ranged from 25-45kgs, with 86pc of the offering weighing 25-35kgs. Demand for the category remained subdued for the second consecutive week, with a clearance rate of 62pc.

First cross ewe lambs average $45 lower

First cross ewe lambs had the largest price reduction this week, with the category averaging $205, back $45. The clearance rate of 49pc was well down on the previous week’s 61pc. The top price for the category of $288 was paid 195 April/May 2021 drop lambs at Telopea Downs, Victoria, that averaged 50.1kgs.

Merino ewe hogget prices average $30 lower

Only 62pc of the 10,325 Merino ewe hoggets listed sold from $143-$297, to average $239, back $30.

NOTE: Prices as at 5pm, Thursday 25th November, 2021