These October-November drop mid-April shorn composite cross lambs, 17.9kg cwt and score 2, sold for $118.50 at Walcha, NSW, on AuctionsPlus last week.

RESTOCKERS competed against processors and live exporters for sheep and lambs listed on AuctionsPlus last week as numbers declined in saleyards after recent rain and seasonal supplies tightened.

The online selling platform offered 43,695 sheep and lambs last week, 5669 more than the previous week.

Most of the increase came from first cross ewes, up about 3000, and the composite ewe offering, which lifted by about 2500, especially from New South Wales and Victoria. The number of store lambs lifted by about 1300. The number of Merino ewes was down by about 1300 and the Merino wether offering fell by about 400.

Older Merino ewes aged 5-7 years sold from $72-$139, averaging $109. The top price was paid for 370 early December shorn six-year-old Glenwood blood ewes from Wellington, NSW. The ewes weighed 60.3kg lwt, were mostly score 3 and 4, and scanned 151 percent in lamb to White Suffolk rams.

Young Merino ewes sold from $100-$142 and averaged $118. The $142 price was paid for 330 20-22 month-old early March shorn ewes from Walgett, NSW, which weighed 55.5kg lwt and were mostly score 2.

Merino wether lamb prices were similar to the previous week at $43.50-$85.50, averaging $70. The top line was 445 7-8 month-old unshorn Roseville Park and Coddington blood wethers, 12.2kg cwt and mostly score 1, from Cooma in NSW. Merino wether hoggets sold to $96.50 for 485 18-20 month-old early August shorn Rosedale Park wethers that averaged 37kg lwt or 13.8kg cwt and were mostly score 2.

Store lamb prices were overall up last week over the Tuesday and Thursday sales. Lambs weighing under 30kg cwt sold from $55-$76 to average $63.50 or 257c/kg lwt include skin value. The 31-35kg lambs made $80.50-$111.50 to average $96 or 292c/kg, the 36-40kg lambs sold for $85-$121 to average $100 or 288c/kg, and heavy lambs over 40kg made $107.5-$120 to average $115.50 or 281c/kg.

First cross ewe lambs sold from $85-$155 to average $127. The top price was paid for a small line of 90 May-June drop late December shorn lambs, 55.6kg lwt, from Wallup in Victoria. There was a large listing of first cross ewe hoggets that sold from $149.50-$195 and averaged $178. The top line of 271 11-13 month-old mid-October shorn ewes from New Lyn in Victoria weighed 48.2kg lwt and were mostly score 3, and scanned in lamb 100pc to Poll Dorset rams.

Proven first cross breeders sold to $200 for a line of 174 four-year-old mid-January shorn ewes from Balldale in NSW that weighed 72.4kg lwt, were mostly score 4, and scanned in lamb 171pc to Poll Dorset and composite rams.

Top price for composite ewes this week was $184.50 for a line 179 mid-December shorn 2.5-3.5 year-olds from Vite Vite in Victoria that averaged 74.2kg lwt, were mostly score 3 and are scanned in lamb to Cloven Hill composite rams.

NLRS indicators continue to firm

The National Reporting Service quoted all lamb and mutton indicators as increasing late last week, capping off big weekly rises.

After Friday’s saleyard sales, the NLRS Eastern Standard Daily Indicators for lamb, the daily and weekly changes were: restocker 585c/kg, up 4 cents, up 29c; Merino 549c/kg, up 6c, up 35c; light 577c/kg, up 4c, up 29c; trade 588c/kg, up 2c, up 28c; heavy 596c/kg, up 4c, up 34c. The national trade lamb indicator closed up 1 cent on Friday to 586c/kg, and the heavy indice was up 4 cents on 596c/kg.

The ESDI and national indicators for mutton closed 1 cent higher on 382c/kg.

Cowra’s heavy lambs $10-$15 dearer

At the Cowra saleyards on Friday, the agents yarded 5350 lambs, 850 more than last week, and 915 sheep, 245 more.

The NLRS said the quality of the supplementary-fed lambs offered continued to be good. Mainly trade and heavy weights were offered, plus a few store lambs. All the usual buyers operated and competition was strong, particularly for the better finished trade and heavy lambs.

Light lambs sold from $104-$117 to local restockers. Medium and heavy trade weights were $2-$8 dearer and averaged around 580-600c/kg cwt. Most of the better heavy trade weights sold from $130-$143. Heavy weights sold $10-$15 stronger and averaged from 585-605c/kg. Several pens of extra heavy lambs sold from $200-$215.

Sheep quality was very mixed. Medium Merino ewes were $10 dearer and averaged $89 or 328c/kg. Heavy first cross ewes were up to $17 dearer and averaged $106.

Griffith’s heavy lambs sell to $223

At the Griffith saleyards on Friday, the agents yarded 5300 lambs, 2400 fewer than last week, and 1100 sheep, 400 less.

The NLRS said lamb quality was similar to previous sales with well-finished and plainer types penned. Most were heavy and extra heavy weight lambs. The usual buyers competed in a dearer market.

Light weight lambs averaged $106. Trade weights were limited in number and lifted $5 to $120-$146. Merino lambs sold from $118-$150. Heavy and extra heavy weight lambs jumped $10-$15. Heavy weights sold from $158-$181 and extra heavies made $175-$223/head. Carcase prices ranged from 572-612c/kg.

Sheep quality was very mixed. Prices remained strong, with Merino ewes selling from $78-$159. Crossbreds made $78-$144 and Dorper ewes sold from $100-$140.

Sources: MLA, NLRS, AuctionsPlus.