These Apr/May 20’ drop 27kg, White Suffolk/Merino and Poll Dorset/Merino mixed sex suckers from Galore, NSW sold for $156 or 593c

SHEEP numbers continued their uphill trajectory on AuctionsPlus this week, with throughput increasing by 1985 head to total 74,011 head.

Merino wether lambs and crossbred lambs reported large increases in listings, as new season lambs are starting to hit the market.

Clearance dipped slightly to sit at 74pc across all sheep sales for the past seven days, which is down 4pc from the previous week.

No standout price increases were reported as prices flattened and corrected. The largest adjustment was ewes with lambs at foot which dropped by $106 to average $297. Other major price decreases were experienced by first cross Border Leicester ewe lambs which retracted by $32 to average $282.

Merino wether lambs and crossbred lambs reported large increases in listings as new season lambs are starting to hit the box. Crossbred lambs in particular were in high demand with 100pc of the 2715 head offered finding a buyer. Merino wether lambs achieved a 73pc clearance rate across the 5861 head listed.

For several consecutive weeks, the Central West remains the largest purchasing region securing just over 14,000 head. The question remains for how much longer this region dominates purchasing, and what this will do to the market once producers have fully restocked.

Interestingly, the Central West was also the largest listing region suggesting that producers are now looking to start trading and cashing in on the high prices as their operations are returning to normal.

Merino ewe lambs sold from $120 to $301 this week, averaging $207, which is firm on last week.

Top price was achieved by a line of 266 future breeder ewe lambs from Yongala, SA. These Poll Merino ewe lambs were 49kg, May/Jun 19’ drop, Line Gum Hill blood, have a 2¾” skin on their backs and will travel to Keith, SA.

Merino ewe hoggets reduced in value by $39 from last week averaging $226, selling from $120 to $340. Top price was returned by a line of 216 SIL ewes from Jerilderie, NSW. These hoggets were 51kg, 14 months of age, SIL to Poll Dorset rams and will travel to Wagga Wagga, NSW.

Young breeders (2 – 4 years) also reduced in price this week by $17, to average $265, selling from $161 to $341. From Walgett, NSW a line of 287 SIL ewes returned the top price. These Haddon Rig blood ewes were 57kg, rising 3 years of age, have a 2½” skin on their backs and will travel to Ballimore, NSW.

Proven breeders (4 years and older) sold from $175 to $350 and averaged $262, up $13. Top price was returned by a line of 270 SIL ewes from Hay, NSW. These ewes were 81kg, 2-6 years of age, had a 2¾” skin on their backs, SIL to White Suffolk rams and will travel to Wagga Wagga, NSW.

Merino ewes with lambs at foot averaged $310, down $79, selling from $268 to $370. Top price was returned by a line of 109 NSM ewes and 152 lambs from Keith, SA. These ewes weighed 58kg, were 4-6 years of age, had a 2¾” skin on their backs and the lambs at foot were 1-2 months of age, averaging 18kg. They will travel to Bendigo, VIC.

Merino wether lambs remained firm on last week averaging $156, selling from $109 to $191. Top price was returned by a line of 400 woolgrower wether lambs from Cooma, NSW. These wethers weighed 45kg, were Oct/Nov 19’ drop, had a 2½” skin on their backs and will travel to Cowra, NSW.

Merino wethers sold from $141 to $180, averaging $150, down $13. From Rylstone, NSW a line of 300 woolgrower wethers achieved the top price. These Fosterfield and Tallawang blood wethers were 53kg, 3–5 years of age, had a 3” skin on their backs and will travel to Epsom, VIC.

First cross ewe lambs sold from $249 to $417, averaging $287, down $28. Top price was returned by a line of Jun/Jul 19’ drop ewe lambs, weighing 54kg and SIL to Poll Dorset rams from Jerilderie, NSW. From Kamarooka, VIC a line of Jul/Aug 19’ drop future breeders, weighing 53kgs returned $250.

First cross ewes sold from $300 to $432, averaging $351. From Millthorpe, NSW a line of 13-14 month ewe hoggets, averaging 60kg, SIL to White Suffolk rams returned the top price. From Violet Town, VIC, a line of four-year-old station mated ewes, 79kg returned $302.

There were 4522 head offered from Western Australia this week. Merino ewe lambs again dominated the offering, selling from $120 to $253, averaging $182, down $17 on last week.

From Narrogin, WA a line of Angenup blood future breeders, Jun/Jul 19’ drop, 47kg with a 2 ¾” skin, returned the top price and are travelling over 3000kms to Strangways, VIC.

Other highlights from the west saw a line of first cross maternal composite/Poll Merino scanned undetectable ewe lambs, from Kojonup return $170. These ewes were Jul/Aug 19’ drop, 38kg and will remain in WA.

A total of 6790 store lambs were offered this week selling from 396c to 593c, averaging 459c. Highlights included:

• Apr/May 20’ drop – 27kg, White Suffolk/Merino and Poll Dorset/Merino Mixed Sex Suckers from Galore, New South Wales sold for $156 or 593c
• Oct/Nov 19’ drop – 34kg, Poll Dorset/Merino mixed sex store lambs from Humula NSW sold for $167 or 485c
• Oct/Nov 19’ drop – 37kg, White Suffolk/Romney mixed sex store lambs from Benalla, Victoria sold for $163 or 453c
• Aug/Sep 19’ drop – 37kg, 2nd X Poll Dorset/Border Merino & Composite mixed sex trade lambs from Plenty, Tasmania sold for $150 or 412c
• Nov/Dec 19’ drop – 41kg, Meatmaster/Dorper wether lambs from St George, Queensland sold for $166.5 or 407c

Source: AuctionsPlus