DEMAND for Merino ewe lambs and young ewes strengthened on AuctionsPlus last week.

There was a full clearance of the Merino ewe lambs offered online last week, with prices ranging from $90 to $370, and averaging $196, up $60 on the previous week.

Young Merino ewes, 2-4 years-old, sold from $115 to $325, averaging $197, up $37.

Sheep and lamb numbers on AuctionsPlus last week were down 17,518 head to 98,385. Prices increased for all categories except Merino wethers. The Riverina region of New South Wales continued to dominate online buying, followed by south-west and northern Victoria.

A small line of 17 May 2019 drop Panorama Merino Stud Merino ewe lambs weighing 45kgs at Borung, VIC sold for the top price of $370 in the stud’s dispersal. Merino ewe hoggets were up $8, averaging $208, selling from $80 to $305 for 49 1-18 month-olds from the Panorama stud. At Young, NSW a line of unjoined 16 month-old Bundilla blood Merino ewes weighing 65kgs made $286 and will travel 950kms to Millicent, South Australia.

A line of unjoined 2.5-3.5 year-old Mumblebone blood Merino ewes weighing 47kgs, from Wellington, NSW, sold for $200. At Dirranbandi in Queensland, a line of unjoined 2-4 year-old Merino ewes weighing 57kgs sold for $147 to a Bourke, NSW, buyer. \

Proven Merino ewes, 4 years-old and older, averaged $170, up $6, making from $81 to $295. At Kapunda, SA, a line of rising 5 year-old Gum Hill blood ewes weighing 62kgs made $182 to a Victorian buyer at Ararat.

Merino wether lambs average $110

Merino wether lambs averaged $110, down $4, and sold from $73 to $145. A line of April/May 2019 drop Oakbank blood wether suckers weighing 46kgs at Longwood, VIC sold for the top price. At Hay, NSW, a line of July/August 2019 Woodpark blood Merino wether lambs weighing 35kgs sold for $126 top a Victorian buyer at Shepparton.

Merino wethers sold from $67 to $125, averaging $104, $16 down. At Boorowa, NSW, two lines of two year-old Roseville Park blood trade wethers weighing 48kgs sold for the top price, with one of the lines remaining in NSW and the other to travel across the border into Victoria.

First cross ewes lambs sell to $218

First cross ewe lambs sold from $86 to $218, averaging $151, $58 down on last week. The top price was paid for a line of May/June 2019 drop lambs weighing 41kgs at Kingston, SA. At Dunedoo, NSW, a line of March/April 2019 ewe lambs weighing 43kgs made $211.

First cross ewe hoggets sold from $192 to $351, averaging $300. A line of unjoined 17-18 month-old ewes weighing 72kgs at Tarcombe, VIC, sold for the top price. Young 2-4 year-old first cross ewes sold from $178.50 to $260, averaging $219, and proven 4-7 year-old first cross ewes averaged $192 and from $145 to $239.

The Benalla first cross ewe & lamb sale was interfaced online and the 4499 head were all sold. In total 63 registered bidders logged into the sale, with 23 online bids placed from users in Victoria. The offering of ewe lambs sold from $160 to $275, averaging $231. The ewe offering sold from $210 to $370 and averaged $311.

Other highlights included a line of pure Composite ewes, 14-15 months, weighing 60kgs with LAF sired by White Suffolk and Composite rams from Goulburn, NSW return $367. From Quambone, NSW a line of first cross White Suffolk/Merino station mated ewes, 17-18 months, weighing 72kgs returned $186 and will travel 1,000km to Delacombe, VIC.

Store lamb prices hold firm

The offering of store lambs achieved a 94% clearance this week, with 27,681 head offered 1,057 down on last week. Prices were firm on last week averaging 387c, selling from 277c to 507c. Highlights include;

–           Jun/Aug 19’, 30kg Border Leicester/Merino mixed sex suckers from WEE WAA, NSW sold for $152 or 507c/kg live

–          Feb/Apr 19’, 38kg pure Dorper mixed sex lambs from MORVEN, QLD sold for $153 or 402c/kg live

–          Jul/Aug 19’, 44kg 2ndX Poll Dorset mixed sex lambs from LAKE BATHURST, NSW sold for $163 or 370c/kg live

–          Jun/Jul 19’, 41kg 2ndX White Suffolk mixed sex store lambs from KINGSTON SE, SA sold for $147 or 359c/kg live

–          Jul 19’, 42kg pure Composite store wether lambs from PIGEON PONDS, VIC sold for $14.50 or 339c/kg live