These mixed sex April 2024 drop Poll Dorset cross lambs at Nyngan, NSW, sold for $154 on AuctionsPlus last week.

AUCTIONSPLUS commercial sheep and lamb listings increased 53 percent to 49,138 head last week, boosted by a bigger new season lamb offering.

The overall clearance rate lifted 10 percent to finish the week at 86pc, driven by demand for lamb categories that cleared 94pc of listings.

The joined ewe offering experienced more varied results with a 42pc clearance rate.

The crossbred lamb indicator remained steady to average $118/head and the AuctionsPlus Restocker Lamb indicator fell 5c/kg to average 745c/kg dressed.

The value over reserve averaged $13/head over set reserves, lifting $5 from last week. Lots that sold during the auction averaged $14/head above reserve, with the figure dropping slightly during post-auction transactions.

The new season lamb offering lifted again this week, with 37,195 head up from 24,325 the previous week. This category made up 82pc of the total yarding. New season lambs achieved a 94pc clearance rate, up from 77pc the previous week. The average price paid fell $1 to $116.

Listings increased significantly in New South Wales, with numbers up 15,473. Queensland listings also recovered strongly. Listings also rose in South Australia, rising by 1075 head to 7071.

AuctionsPlus said the NSW Riverina was comfortably the highest listing region, with the 18,485 head offered, equal to 38pc of the week’s total sheep and lamb offering.

AuctionsPlus offered 20,015 crossbred lambs and the average price held firm at $118/head. The Merino wether lamb offering rose 518pc to 14,444 and the average price listed $28 to $111. At Carrathool in NSW, 303 April-May 2024 drop White Suffolk cross wethers weighing 41kg lwt sold for $172/head, or 422c/kg, to a buyer in Narrabri, NSW.

The average price paid for first cross ewe lambs dropped $23 to $132/head. However, the clearance rate rose tripled to 75pc. At Coonamble in NSW, 200 April-May 2024 drop first cross ewe lambs weighing 32kg lwt made $150, or 467c/kg, with a buyer in Inverell, NSW.

Unjoined Merino ewe hoggets averaged $140, down $33 for a bigger listing 2360, up 154pc.

Note: Prices as at 5pm Thursday, August 29, 2024.

Source – AuctionsPlus.