These 15 month-old Merino ewes at Yass in New South Wales sold for $116 on AuctionsPlus last week.

PRICES improved for Merino lambs, wethers and joined ewes on AuctionsPlus last week, as the total online offering dropped 15 percent to 125,555 head.

However, online sheep and lamb listings are still sitting 32 percent above the corresponding week in 2022.

AuctionsPlus said the high throughput proved a challenge for demand as reduced clearance rates reflected selective buying across most categories.

The National Lamb sale offered 73,196 head in 214 lots. Two of the seven lamb categories sold to an improved average this week while shedding, composite and crossbred lamb rates all contracted.

The 35,710 crossbred lambs offered sold to a 64pc clearance late Thursday, up from 39pc at the immediate close of sale. Selective buying was prominent with demand for quality and weighted lambs underpinning strong results, AuctionsPlus said. Prices for the category ranged from $77-$148 to average $110, steady on the previous week. Topping the category at $148 were two lines of White Suffolk cross mixed sex lambs weighing 47kg lwt at Keilira in South Australia.

Merino wether lambs registered the highest clearance rate in the lamb categories; reaching 82pc for the 12,438 head offered. Prices averaged $16 higher at $96/head, selling to a top of $125. At Longreach in Queensland, 1050 Merino lambs weighing 41kg lwt made $106 with a NSW buyer at Crooble. The average prices of the 595 Merino ewe lambs lifted $27 to $92.

The 12,776 first cross ewe lambs offered sold to a 34pc clearance late Thursday, up from a subdued 15pc at the immediate close of Tuesday’s sale. Prices for the category were broad, ranging from $90-$230 to average $154, back $56. At Naracoorte in South Australia, a line of first cross lambs weighing 49kg lwt sold for $167.

The 8601 composite and other breed lambs sold to a 65pc clearance. The average price fell by $7 to $93. At Glenburn in Victoria, a line of composite lambs weighing 48kg lwt made $144/head.

Sheep numbers rose to 49,466 head and were split across two sales on Tuesday. The number of joined ewes fell 28pc to 10,687 head and the unjoined ewe offering rose 13pc to 35,427. The clearance rates remained subdued across all sheep categories, with all five unjoined ewe categories registering lower average prices than the previous week.

Scanned in-lamb Merino ewes made up the largest joined ewe category with 2670 head that sold to a 36pc clearance. The average price for the category rose $36 to $225. At Weethalle in NSW, 220 21-22 month-old SIL Merino ewes weighing 66kg lwt sold for $280.

The 2587 joined shedding breed ewes offered averaged $193, down $17, and the clearance rate lifted from 36pc at the immediate close of sales on Tuesday, to 81pc by Thursday. At Dubbo in NSW, a line of Australian White ewes aged 24-36 months weighing 68kg lwt made $253.

The 9954 unjoined Merino ewe hoggets offered sold to a 26pc clearance by late Thursday, up from 18pc at the immediate close of sale. The average price for the category eased back $3 to $163. At Warren in NSW, 530 16-17 month-old hoggets weighing 58kg lwt sold in two lines for $196/head.

Unjoined Merino ewes averaged $133, back $12. The 9710 head offered sold to a 56pc clearance. At Yass in NSW, 220 3.5 year-old ewes weighing 53kg lwt sold for $174/head to a Victorian buyer at Redan.

Only 27pc of the 5470 first cross ewes offered sold for an average of $186, back $3. At Bombala in NSW, two lines of aged 14-16 month-old first cross ewes weighing 52kg lwt made $222.

Only half the 6722 unjoined composite and other breed ewes sold for an average of $117. At Walpa in Victoria, 650 composite ewe hoggets weighing 44kg lwt sold for $160.

Note: Prices as at 5pm Thursday, 26th January 2023

Source – AuctionsPlus.