SHEEP and lamb numbers offered on AuctionsPlus fell last week as dry conditions continued across much of New South Wales and parts Victoria.

AuctionsPlus market operations supervisor Tom Rookyard said only areas of south eastern Queensland have seen relief to the conditions.

“Across the lamb sale, Tuesday and Thursday sheep sales there was 72,692 head offered, 44,000 less than last week.

“Despite this fall in numbers, 407 unique bidders logged into the sales across the week, with a clearance of 68 percent across the sales,” he said.

Mr Rookyard said 20,000 Merino ewes and ewe lambs were offered last week. Ewe hoggets sold from $79.50 to $220 and averaged $161. The top-priced ewes was a line of 14-15 month old unjoined Andoma blood ewes from Kaniva in Victoria, that averaged 59kg lwt. A line of 15-16 month old 51kg Merino hoggets from Raby Stud, Warren, NSW sold for $200.

Young and proven Merino breeders offered last week averaged $109, and sold from $40.50 to a top of $151.50. The top-priced mob was 2-5 year-old Egelabra blood unjoined ewes from Coonamble, NSW.

Merino wether lambs last week averaged $86.50 and were topped by a line of Sherlock blood, 2017 April/May drop, 49kg lambs that had a 2’’ inch skin, from Wynarka in South Australia, that made $105.50. Grown Merino wethers were topped by a mob of two year-old, Gleneden blood wool cutters from Gringegalgona, Victoria, which had 1.75’’ inch skin and sold for $125.

Lamb sales continued to roll on last week, with 33,000 store lambs offered. In New South Wales a line of 38kg lwt, 2nd cross Poll Dorset suckers, June/July drop and mixed sex, from Ariah Park, NSW topped the sale at $130.50. A line of 43kg Border Leicester/Merino mixed sex lambs from Warren, NSW sold for $130. Some 32kg Border Leicester/Merino mixed sex lambs from Nyngan, NSW made $117.50.

 Store lamb sales by liveweight

25kg to 27kg made $66 to $97.50 to average $83 or 308c/kg live

28kg to 32kg made $94 to $117.50 to average $100 or 325c

33kg to 35kg made $81 to $112.50 to average $103 or 298c

36kg to 38kg made $98.50 to $130.50 to average $110 or 294c

40kg to 44kg made $116 to $130 to average $121.50 or 292c

First cross Border Leicester/Merino ewe lambs and hoggets averaged $180, and sold to $200 twice online. The top-priced mobs included a line of 12-13 month old, 59kg scanned empty hoggets from Grenfell, NSW; and a line of 16-17 month-old, unjoined 62kg hoggets from Canowindra, NSW.

Mr Rookyard said there was plenty of interstate buying activity happening last week, as buyers scoured catalogues. Stock on the move included 14-15 month-old Border Leicester/Merino hoggets from Gilgandra, NSW that will be making a 936km trip down to Ballarat in Victoria. A line of 46kg 15-16 month-old Merino hoggets at Warren, NSW, will be heading the fastest route down to Colebatch, SA; a 1162km journey.

Source: AuctionsPlus.