SHEEP and lamb numbers offered on AuctionsPlus continued to steady last week, dropping by about 4000 to 58,501 head.

Most of the offering last week was Merino ewes, with about 24,000 catalogued online, but the number of spring store lambs dipped to 10,000 head.

Dry conditions in the southern states led to listings in Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania falling to about 8700, back 13,000 on the previous week, as potential sellers wait on rain to boost buying interest.

The average price of Merino ewe hoggets dropped $10 a head from last week to $139, as demand dropped from restockers and breeders, and autumn lambing started.

Merino hoggets were mixed in quality and prices ranged from $106 up to $175 for a line of 52kg 18-19 month-old ewes at Grenfell, New South Wales.

Prices for 2-4 year-old Merino breeders came back $15 from the previous week to average $141. They sold from $98.50 up to $188 for a line of 2-3 year-old ewes weighing 60kg and scanned in-lamb to White Suffolk rams from Nyngan, NSW, and heading to Euroa in Victoria.

Older Merino breeders aged 4-6 years experienced the same trend and averaged $136. Consignments were mixed in quality and prices ranged from $94.50 up to $170 for a line of 5 year-old old, 79kg ewes at Bridgewater in Victoria, scanned in-lamb to White Suffolk rams.

Wool and lamb values boost prices

The Merino wether offering increased 8500 last week. The average price for wether lambs rose $6 last week to $100. Prices ranged from $75 up to $137 for a line of August-September 2017 drop wether lambs at Bethungra, NSW, weighing 48kg and carrying a 5cm fleece.

Large numbers of first cross ewes sparked buyer interest on AuctionsPlus last week and ewe lambs averaged $157. Prices ranged from $125 up to $200 for a line of 60kg, April-May 2017 drop ewe lambs at Grong Grong, NSW. Four lines of 2-5 year-old ewes from Walcha, NSW, sold for $142.50 and are headed to Corowa, NSW.

Store lamb highlights

Poll Dorset cross, 42kg lwt, $133, Sept-Oct ‘17 drop, from Shepparton, Victoria

Poll Dorset cross, 39kg, $128, Aug-Sep ‘17 drop, Cooma, NSW

Poll Dorset cross, 37kg, $122, Sept-Oct 17 drop, Shepparton, Victoria

First cross wether lambs, 38kg, $121, Aug-Sep ‘17 drop, Dunedoo, NSW

First cross wether lambs, 41kg, $117, Sept-Oct ‘17 drop, 41kg, Warren, NSW

Poll Dorset cross lambs, 38kg, $115.50, Aug-Sep ‘17 drop, Hamilton, Victoria

White Dorper wether lambs, 42kg, $115, Aug-Sep ‘17 drop, Thallon, Queensland

White Suffolk cross lambs, 39kg, $113, July-Aug ‘17 drop, Goshen, Tasmania

Source: AuctionsPlus.