These 16-17 month-old Merino ewes scanned in-lamb to Poll Dorset rams made $336 on AuctionsPlus last week.

MERINO ewe prices eased on AuctionsPlus last week as the overall online sheep and lamb offering fell 17,957 head to 42,671.

AuctionsPlus said average prices eased across most categories, with prices for 2-4 year-old Merino ewes averaging $79 lower to $200, while the mean first cross ewe lamb price lifted $18 to $270.

With widespread rainfall ahead of good springs forecast for many areas, central west New South Wales producers again were the highest regional purchasers; buying 5826 head, with 60 percent being Merino ewes and lambs. South-west Victoria buyers bought 5046 head.

Merino ewe lambs make $267

These 11-12 month-old Merino ewe lambs sold for $267 at Tintinara, SA, on AuctionsPlus last week.

Merino ewe lambs ranged from $80 to $267, averaging $185, back $37. The top price was paid for 326 11-12 month-old early July shorn ewes offered by Cavanagh Farms at Tintinara, South Australia. The ewes weighed 49kgs and sold to a Victorian buyer at Rainbow. At Mount Bryan East, SA, J.L. Quinn & Son sold 185 late June shorn May-June 2019 drop ewe lambs weighing 52kgs for $226 to a Victorian buyer at Birchip.

Merino hoggets sold firm at $120 to $336 to average $231, $2 dearer. The top price was paid 186 16-17 month-old late October shorn Merino ewes scanned in-lamb to Poll Dorset rams from N.M. Jones at Boree Creek, NSW. The Ballatherie blood ewes weighed 70kgs. The vendors also sold two other lines of SIL maiden ewes for $335 and $300 that sold to a NSW buyer at Dunedoo.

Young Merino ewes sell to $295

Merino ewes aged 2-4 years old from $146 to $295 to average $200, back $79. The top price was paid for 187 3-5 year-old early October shorn ewes with 215 1-3 month-old Poll Dorset lambs from A.J. Pekin at Clear Lake Victoria.  The ewes weighed 52kgs and sold to a Victorian buyer at Inglewood.

Older Merino ewes, four years-old and older, sold from $123 to $305 to average $221, $13 easier. The top price was paid for 100 early January shorn 2-6 year-old ewes with 117 1-2 week-old Suffolk cross lambs Jinjilla Farms at Cowra, NSW. The ewe-lamb units sold to NSW buyer at Mudgee.

Merino wether lambs average $115

Merino wether lambs sold from $86 to $125.50 to average $115, up $2 to. The top price was paid for 485 April-May 2020 drop unshorn Willandra blood and Bowen bred lambs weighing 41kgs from Sleigh Pastoral Co at Jerilderie, NSW. The lambs sold to a NSW buyer at Albury. The vendors also sold a line of 34kgs lambs for $114.50 to an Albury buyer.

Merino wethers sold from $107.50 to $130 last week to average $113, down $24. The top price was paid for 450 4-5 year-old mid-July shorn 56.2kg wethers from Phils River Grazing at Crookwell, NSW. They sold to a NSW buyer at Goulburn.  At Stanthorpe, Queensland, C.N. & C.J. Bauman sold 310 5.5 year-old early May shorn Merino wethers weighing 45.6kg to a NSW buyer at Inverell.

First cross ewe lambs make $336

These 10-11 month-old First cross ewe lambs made $336 on AuctionsPlus last week.

First cross ewe lambs sold from $220 to $336 to average $270, up $18. The top price was paid for 174 10-11 month-old mid-May shorn unjoined ewe lambs weighing 51.3kgs from Rodger and Elizabeth Kelly at Rugby in NSW. They also sold another 174 of the same ewes for $334 and both went to a NSW buyer at Young.

Ewes with lambs sold from $234 to $450 last week, to average $305, down $2. The top price was paid for 47 2-7 year-old Gloroy and Glenore blood Poll Dorset ewes with 67 lambs from C.J. & B.S. Appledore at Brim, Victoria. They sold to a SA buyer at Kingston.

Store lamb prices slightly easier

AuctionsPlus offered 6272 store lambs last week, 3747 fewer, and sold 63pc. Prices ranged from 293-540c/kg liveweight, averaging 3 cents easier at 405c/kg. Highlights included:

–              Poll Dorset cross, April 2020 drop, 25kg, 540c/kg or $135, Wagga Wagga, NSW

–              White Suffolk cross, May/June 2020, 27kg, 441c/kg or $121 Frances, SA

–              White Suffolk cross, April/May ’20, 32kg, 421c/kg or $136, Joel South, Victoria

–              Poll Dorset cross, April/May 2020, 34kg, 408c/kg or $137Mundulla, SA

–              BL/Dohne cross, May/June 2020, 31kg, 395c/kg or $121, Western Flat, SA

–              White Suffolk cross, May/June 2020, 31kg, 421c/kg or $130, Buangor, Victoria