DEMAND intensified for breeding sheep on AuctionsPlus last week, with Merino ewe hoggets selling to $262 and older ewes making to $252.

AuctionsPlus operations manager Tom Rookyard said 106,157 sheep and lambs were offered on the online platform, 10,000 head fewer.

“In a firm to dearer market, most stock categories saw price rises, and the Riverina and Victoria once again dominate buying activity, securing 18,500 and 32,900 head respectively,” he said.

Merino ewe hoggets sell to $262

In the limited offering of Merino ewe lambs, a line of April/May 2019 drop ewe lambs at Forbes, New South Wales, weighing 31kg liveweight sold for $160.

Merino ewe hoggets sold from $85 to $262, to average $208, up $8. The top price was paid for a line of 16-17 month-old unjoined ewes at Nildottie, South Australia. They were sold for an SA buyer at Mount Pleasant. At Tullamore in NSW, a line of 16 month-old ewe hoggets weighing 45kg sold to a South Australian buyer for $220.

Unjoined Merino ewes make $252

Young 2-4 year-old Merino ewes made from $97 to $264 and averaged $193, up $14. Proven 4 years and older Merino ewes sold from $60 to $237 and averaged $172, up $12. Merino ewe highlights included two year-old unjoined ewes at Kingston in SA selling for $252 to a buyer in Coonamble, NSW, and unjoined four year-old Merino ewes at Blackall in Queensland selling for $235 into the Central West of NSW.

Nareen Merino ewes make to $260

Mr Rookyard said Tom Madden of TB White and Sons offered just over 5000 unjoined Merino ewes online last week in the annual Nareen Station Production sale. All sheep were sold, with the two year-old ewes selling from $235-$260 and averaging $247. The five year-old ewes sold from $192 to $203 and averaged $197. Buyers across the platform flocked for the offering, resulting in most lots staying within Victoria, from Mortlake to Horsham and across to Pirie’s.

Merino wether lambs harder to sell

AuctionsPlus offered 20,000 new season Merino wether lambs last week and 70pc were sold. Lambs sold from $56 to $145, to average $100. A line of April/May 2019 drop Poll Merino lambs weighing 44kg at Manoora, SA, topped the sale. A line of June/July 2019 drop lambs weighing 43kg at Moulamein, NSW, sold for $141 to a Dubbo buyer. A line of April/June 2019 drop lambs at Ilfracombe, QLD, weighing 36kg, sold to a buyer at Longreach, QLD, for $108. Grown Merino wethers sold from $104 to $147, to average $116, up $2 on the previous week.

First cross ewes sell to $330

First cross ewes sold to $330 and ewe lambs to $225 in an offering of 8100 last week. Ewe lambs sold from $169 to $225 to average $208, up $5 on last week.

Unjoined first cross ewe hoggets sold from $237 to $285, to average $268, up $23 on last week. Unjoined first cross ewes averaged $232, up $8 on last week and made from $180 to $330. Highlights included unjoined 2-3 year-old ewes at Mount Schank, SA, selling for $330 and 13-15 month-old ewe hoggets at Wirrinya, NSW, selling to a Victorian buyer for $285. Joined ewe hoggets weighing 71kg at Mildura in Victoria sold for $250.

Cashmore Oaklea composite ewes sell to $330

All lines in the annual Cashmore Oaklea sale of 5075 ewes and ewe lambs from south-east South Australia and south-west Victoria sold. The top-priced line 18-19 month-old unjoined ewes weighing 55kg at Kalangadoo, SA, sold to a Millicent buyer for $330. A line of June/July 2019 drop ewe lambs at Kalangadoo, SA, sold for $206.

AuctionsPlus clears 91pc of backgrounder lamb offering

In the Annual North East Victorian Lamb, Backgrounder and Finisher Sale, bidders bought 91pc of the 12,507 head offered. Mixed sex suckers and lambs sold from $107 to $150 and averaged $134. The top price was paid for a line August/September 2019 drop Poll Dorset cross lambs weighing 44kg at Glenrowan in Victoria. They were bought by a buyer at Coleambally, NSW. Wether lambs sold for up to $140 for a line of July/September 2019 drop composite lambs weighing 44kg at Alexandra in Victoria.

New season store lamb clearance lower

AuctionsPlus offered 43,809 new season store lambs last week — just under 7000 fewer — and 74pc were sold. Highlights included:

–              Poll Dorset cross, July/Sept 2019 drop, 44.3kg, $155, Bunnaloo, New South Wales

–              Poll Merino mixed sex, June/July 2019 drop,  43.2kg, $151, Crookwell, New South Wales

–              Poll Dorset cross, August/September 2019 drop, 43.7kg, $150.50, Glenrowan, Victoria

–              Poll Dorset cross, June/July 2019 drop,  40.5kg, $150.50, Bonnie Doon, Victoria

–              Poll Dorset cross, August/September 2019 drop, 43.5kg, $149.50, Benalla, Victoria

–              Poll Dorset cross, May/July 2019 drop, 39.8kg, $149, Mansfield, Victoria

–              Composite wethers, July/September 2019 drop, 43.4kg, $140, Alexandra, Victoria