MERINO ewes sold to $270 and first cross ewes sold to $250 in a reduced online offering on AuctionsPlus last week.

Sheep and lamb numbers this week totalled 58,071 head on AuctionsPlus last week, a decrease of 2770.

The clearance rate across all sheep sales was 76 percent, peaking at 90pc for the week’s lamb sale.

AuctionsPlus’ Alex Hearn said the strong prices and clearance could partially be attributed to the dramatic increase in the number of unique users logging in to the sales. The platform’s national online sheep sale attracted 358 bidders and there were 457 bidders in the lamb sale.

AuctionsPlus cleared 70pc of the 17,579 Merino ewes offered last week. Older Merino ewe lambs averaged $118.50 and sold to a top of $151. This top price went to a line of Bundilla blood ewe lambs from Yass, NSW. The lambs were August/September 2017 drop and weighed 35kg with 1.75” skin.

Merino ewe hoggets averaged $171 and sold to a top of $270. The top price went to a line of Yanko and Yanko Poll blood hoggets from Jerilderie, NSW. The ewes were aged 14 to 15 months, and weighed 46kg with a 2” skin. Grown Merino ewes sold for an average of $130 and sold to a top of $179. This top price was paid for a line of Haddon Rig blood ewes from Walgett, NSW. The ewes were aged 2 to 6 years, weigh 66kg with a 2” skin. These ewes are also SIL to Border Leicester rams.

First cross ewes were limited in supply with ewe lambs averaging $162 and selling to a top of $170. The top price was paid for a line of April/May 2018 drop lambs, weighing 35kg from Western Flat, SA. Only one line of 13-14 month-old ewe hoggets sold to a price of $250. They weighed 65kg and were from Watchem, VIC. Grown first cross ewes averaged $139 and sold to a top of $174. This top price went to a line of ewes from Archdale Junction, VIC. The ewes were 3 years old and weighed 70kg.

Only two lines of ewes and lambs were sold online last week. The first line and the top price of $323 went to a line of three year-old first cross ewes with White Suffolk lambs at Archdale Junction in Victoria. The second line of ewes and lambs which sold for $160.50 went to a line of 2 to 8 year old first cross ewes with Poll Dorset lambs at foot from Trundle, NSW.

New season lamb highlights

May/Jun-18 drop Poll Dorset/Border Leicester/Merino mixed sex suckers from LONGWOOD, VIC weighing 38kg, sold for $153.50

Mar/Apr-18 drop Border Leicester/Merino mixed sex suckers from WALGETT, NSW weighing 37kg sold for $152

Apr/May drop Poll Dorset/Poll Merino mixed sex suckers from COOLAMON, NSW weighing 35kg sold for $142

Apr/May drop Merino suckers from PYAP WEST, SA weighing 45kg sold for $141

Apr/May drop White Suffolk/Merino suckers from WAIKERIE, SA weighing 35kg sold for $140

Source: AuctionsPlus.