These August 2019 drop mid-March shorn Merino ewe lambs sold for $321 on AuctionsPlus at Violet Town, Victoria, last week.

PRICES lifted for Merino ewe and wether lambs, and first cross ewe hoggets, on AuctionsPlus last week, but fell for most other categories.

The online platform offered 146,731 head, 17,687 more than last week.

The offering was boosted by the Top of the Drop Corrigin/Wickepin Circuit sale interface in Western Australia, and the CIAA Spring Twilight Sheep & Lamb sale and Lameroo Annual off shears interface in South Australia.

Clearance rates remain strong, with 89 percent of stock offered in the weekly commercial sales being sold, up 7pc.

Central western New South Wales was again the leading purchasing region, securing 22,215 head, followed by Riverina region buyers, who bought 16,764 head.

Merino ewe lambs sell to $321

Merino ewe lambs sold from $153 to $321 to average $210, up $7. The top price was paid for a line of mid-March shorn August 2019 drop Toland blood ewe lambs weighing 57kgs from L. & S. Kubeil at Violet Town, Victoria. A line of 11-12 month Tootha blood ewes weighing 45kg and with 12mm fleeces from Newag at Peak Hill, NSW, sold for $242.

Merino ewe hoggets sold from $140 to $317, averaging $249, down $10. The top price was paid for a line of 15-16 month-old Grasmere blood ewe hoggets weighing 62kg and with a 6mm fleece from E.L. & D.E. McKenzie at Bethungura, NSW. A line of 14-15 month-old North Cowie and Carrie Cowie blood hoggets weighing 62kgs with a 45mm fleece from M.D. & K.A. Ramsay at Warooka, South Australia, sold for $276.

Merino ewes sell to $276

Young Merino ewes aged 2-4 years-old sold from $157 to $291 and averaged $232,  down $56. The top price was paid for two lines of rising three year-old unjoined Leahcim blood ewes weighing 79kg and with 25mm fleeces from R. and S. Wearne at Caldwell, NSW. A line of rising 2-3 year-old unjoined September shorn Collinsville and Lorelmo blood ewes weighing 59kgs from Koorangie Farms at Kerang, Victoria, sold for $217.

Proven Merino ewes, four years and older, sold from $134 to $276, averaging $200, down $9. The top price was paid for a line of 2-6 year-old Barooga and Performance blood ewes scanned in-lamb to Poll Dorset rams, weighing 64kg and with 57mm fleeces from Mylora Past. Co at Binalong, NSW. A line of rising five year-old unjoined September shorn Moorundie blood ewes weighing 63kg from Tepco Proprietors at Willalooka, SA, sold for $205.

Merino wether lamb prices lift

AuctionsPlus offered 26,947 Merino wether lambs last week and 96pc found new homes. Prices increased to range from $103 to $154 and average $130, up $5. The top price was paid for a line of May/June 2020 drop East Loddon blood wethers weighing 48kg and with 51mm fleeces from East Loddon Pty Ltd at Booroorban, NSW.

Merino wethers sold from $99 to $165 and averaged $118, firm on the previous week. The top price was paid for a line of 16-17 month-old North Ashrose, Greenfields & Towalba blood wethers weighing 62kg and with 51mm fleeces from J.H. & R.G. Banks at Nyngan, NSW.

First cross ewes hoggets make to $361

First cross ewe lambs sold from $225 to $353 and averaged $265, down $40. The top price was paid for a line of February/March 2020 drop ewe lambs weighing 64kgs from K.J. & B.M. Fairman at Beckom, NSW. A line of April/May 2020 drop lambs weighing 47kg from J.N. & P.M. Byrne Pty Ltd at Lake Marmal, Victoria, made $290.

First cross ewe hoggets sold from $321 to $361 and averaged $332, up $12. The top price was paid for a line of 16-17 month-old hoggets weighing 78kgs from K.J. and B.M Fairman at Beckom, NSW.

First cross ewes sold for $212 to $336 and averaged $288. The top price was paid for a line of rising three year-old ewes weighing 68kgs from G.G. Younger at Woodend, Victoria.

Store lamb numbers surge online

Store lamb numbers increased again to 28,067 head, up 9413 head. The strong demand enabled a complete clearance at firm prices, from 328-728c/kg liveweight, averaging 407cc/kg. Highlights included:

–        Mar/Apr 20’ drop, 27kg, Border Leicester/Merino mixed sex suckers from WALGETT, New South Wales sold for 728c or $199.5

–        Jul/Sep 20’ drop, 29kg, 2nd X Composite mixed sex suckers from MACGILLIVARY, South Australia sold for 489c or $135.

–        May/Jun 20’ drop, 30kg, Border Leicester/Poll Merino store wether lambs from KINGSTON SE, South Australia sold for 486c or $141.

–        Jul/Aug 20’ drop, 32kg, SAMM store wether lambs from IVANHOE, New South Wales sold for 451c or $142.

–        May/Jun 20’ drop, 33kg, Border Leicester/Merino wether suckers from VIOLET TOWN, Victoria sold for 435c or $138.

–        Jul/Aug 20’ drop, 31kg 2nd X Composite mixed sex suckers from GLENTHOMPSON, Victoria sold for 431c or $137.