NEW South Wales sheep and lamb buyers have continued their online buying dominance, purchasing more than 60 percent of last week’s AuctionsPlus listings.

AuctionsPlus sheep and lamb numbers increased by 5,961 head last week to 115,903, with an 82 percent clearance.

Numbers were boosted by two commercial sheep sales; the Bendigo Premier Exclusive Breeders First Cross Sale and the Telang First Cross Ewe Sale. Off the back of some welcome rain last weekend, New South Wales was again the largest purchasing region accounting for 61pc of the catalogue. Victoria continues their purchasing spree picking up 25pc of the catalogue.

The Bendigo Premier Exclusive Breeders First Cross Sale was interfaced for the first time with very pleasing results. In total 87 registered bidders logged into the sale, with bids placed from users in Victoria. The catalogue was viewed over 3200 times, reflecting interest in the sale and quality of the stock on offer. 12,000 head were offered, and 100pc clearance was achieved.

The Telang Crossbred Lamb Sale experienced equally successful results. 7700 head were offered and all were sold.

Merino ewe lambs lift $7 to $186.50 peak

Merino ewe lambs averaged $136, up $7, selling from $61 up to $186.50 for 520 August-September 2019 drop Poll merinos at Tumbarumba, NSW. The lambs weighted 38kgs live and were sold to a NSW buyer at Cootamundra.

The Merino ewe hogget price average dropped by $9 to $200. They sold from $125 up to $283 for two lines of 215 Merino ewe hoggets at Hay, NSW. The 17-18 month-old Woodpark Poll blood ewes weighed 57kgs and had a 4.5cm fleece, and were sold to a Victorian buyer at Ararat.

Young Merino ewes sell to $203

Merino ewes 2-4 years-old sold from $106 to $203 and averaged $160, a drop of $31. The the top price was paid for 230 1.5-2.5 year-old Old Ashrose blood ewes at Port Kenny, South Australia, that weighed 60kgs.

Proven Merino ewes breeders, four years and older, sold from $131 to $181, and averaged $164, an increase of $4. The top price was paid for 222 4-5 year-old unjoined ewes at Stockinbingal, NSW. The Egelabra blood ewes weighed 69kgs and were bought by a buyer at Young, NSW.

Merino wethers make $150

Merino wether lamb prices held firm last week, averaging $114, and ranging from $57.50 to $150. The top price was paid for 423 May-June 2019 drop unshorn Merino wethers at Rich Avon in Victoria. The 42kg lambs were sold to a buyer at Donald in Victoria.

Merino wethers sold from $80 to $161 and averaged $120, an increase of $6. The top price was paid for 650 15-16 month-old wether hoggets and lambs at Bourke, NSW. These Poll Merino wethers weighed 58kgs and carried 6.5cm fleece.

First cross ewe lambs sell to $310

First cross ewe lambs sold from $130 to $310 and averaged $209, on AuctionsPlus last week. The top price was paid for 122 7-8 month-old ewe lambs at Minlaton, SA, by a buyer at Yankalilla. The lambs weighed 61kgs and carried a 2.5cm fleece. First cross ewes sold from $200 to $303 and averaged $264. The top price was paid by a Victorian buyer at Kerang for 343 2.5 year-old scanned empty ewes at Deniliquin, NSW that weighed 79kgs and had a 4.5 cm fleece.

Online store lamb numbers drop

AuctionsPlus store lamb supply totalled 28,738 head last week, down 15,192 head. The clearance rate increased to 87%. Prices declined by 10c/kg liveweight to average 385c/kg and ranged from 321c/kg to 476c/kg. Highlights included:

• First cross mixed sex lambs, 28kg, $131.50 or 476c/kg, Birriwa, NSW
• First cross mixed sex lambs, 37kg, $146.50 or 464c/kg, Binda, NSW
• Poll Dorset cross lambs, 27kg, $124 or 456c/kg, Molong, NSW
• White Suffolk cross lambs, 32kg, $138 or 438c/kg, Murray Bridge, SA
• White Suffolk cross lambs 30kg, $125 or 415c/kg, Keith, SA
• White Suffolk cross lambs 42kg, $148.5 or 354c/kg, Concongella, VIC