MORE than 90 percent of Merino wethers and lambs offered online in Australia last week were sold as clearance rates increased after rain.

AuctionsPlus market operations supervisor Tom Rookyard said 13,700 Merino wethers and wether lambs were offered online last week and 93pc were sold.

Wether lambs were in high demand this week, he said, selling from $54-$136.50 and averaging $92, up $5 on last week. The top-price was paid for a line of 43kg, Lines and Gum Hill blood, March/April drop wether lambs at Coomandook, South Australia. A line of 42kg April/June drop lambs from Grenfell, New South Wales, also drew interest, selling for $117.50. Other wether highlights included three year-old wethers at Bookham, NSW, selling for $120.50.

First cross ewes sell to $292

First cross ewe lamb prices held firm last week to average $176, $3 down, and sold to a top of $240 for a line of March/April drop 45kg future breeders from Trangie, NSW, offered by Auburn Farming. First cross ewe hoggets sold to $292 for a line of 14 month-old unjoined ewes at Rutherglen in Victoria. A line of 17-18 month-old hoggets at Euroa, Victoria, sold for $270. Other crossbred ewe highlights included a line of three year-old White Suffolk/Merino ewes at Deniliquin, NSW, that made $180 and some four year-old SAMM/Merino ewes at Tocumwal, NSW, that sold for $182.50.

Mr Rookyard said processors threw their weight around in the online auctions last week. They paid to 182c/kg liveweight or $100.50 a head for a line of six year-old Merino ewes at Molong, NSW. South Australian sheep also drew interest, with April/May drop wether lambs at Keith, SA, selling to 303c/kg or $144, and April/May drop wether lambs at Lameroo, SA, making 285c/kg or $118.

Store lamb highlights

41kg, March/April drop, Poll Dorset/Merino Mixed Sex Suckers from NARRANDERA, New South Wales, sold for 334c/$139

37kg, April/May drop, 2ndX Dorset Mixed Sex Suckers from COWRA, New South Wales, sold for 368c/$137

37kg, April/May drop, 2ndX Poll Dorset Mixed Sex Suckers from COOTAMUNDRA, New South Wales, sold for 359c/$135

37kg, June/July drop, 2ndX Poll Dorset Mixed Sex Suckers from WALLENDBEEN, New South Wales, sold for 346c/$131.5

39kg, March/April drop, White Suffolk/Merino Mixed Sex Store Lambs from DOOKIE, Victoria, sold for 318c/$127

36kg, April/May drop, Border Leicester/Merino Mixed Sex Lambs from ILLABO, New South Wales, sold for 345c/$125.5

37kg, March/April drop, Merino Wether Lambs from COOMANDOOK, South Australia, sold for 325c/$122

Source: AuctionsPlus.