WIDESPREAD rain cut online sheep and lamb offerings across Australia last week, following a similar trend at saleyards.

AuctionsPlus said heavy downpours in northern and north west NSW cut sheep and lamb numbers to 33,515.

There was strong buyer interest in unjoined Merino ewe hoggets, with lines averaging $119 within a range of $96.50-$134. The top-priced lot was 17-18 month-old Tyrone blood ewes, 44kg lwt, with a 7cm skin at Moree, NSW. Aged merino ewes made $57-$114.50, to average $79.

Merino wether lambs sold from $30.50-$76 for an average of $62. Full-grown Merino wethers made $67-$88.50 for an average of $78. The top-priced lot was some heavy Koonwarra and Tara Park blood wethers, 58kg lwt, with 3cm skin from Orange, NSW.

First cross Border Leicester/Merino ewe hoggets met heavy buyer interest to average $152 and range from $135.50-$161. A number of lines of young White Dorper ewe hoggets made from $94-$146.50. The top-priced lot was some 9-10 month-old ewes from Conargo NSW, which were joined to White Dorper rams. A line of 18 month-old unjoined Cashmore Park ewes, 58kg lwt, from Hamilton in Victoria made $156.

Store lambs weighing 27-30kgs lwt made $54.50-$75, to average $64 or 578c/kg cwt including skin value. The 32-34kg store lambs made $65.50-$87, to average $79.50 or 605c/kg. Lines weighing 36-39kg made from $74.50-$99.50, with an average of $91.60 or The 40-43kg lambs sold from $94-$104.50, to average $100 or 577c/kg.

The Nerstane Merino Stud sale offered 172 rams and 599 ewes, with the top-priced ram making $18,000 and the top-priced pen of ewes $250.

NLRS indicators rise as rain tightens supplies

After Friday’s saleyard sales, the Eastern States Daily Indicators for lamb and mutton were mostly higher, with all posting rises for the week. The lamb ESDIs with daily and weekly changes were: restocker 551c/kg, down 5 cents, up 38 cents; Merino down 5c, up 3c; light 508c/kg, up 1c, up 29c; trade 553c/kg, up 4c, up 28c; heavy 560c/kg, up 6c, up 21c. The national trade lamb indicator closed up 5 cents to 557c/kg and the heavy indice finished on 563c/kg, up 7 cents.

The ESDI for mutton finished on 295c/kg, up 5 cents for the day and 28 cents for the week. The national mutton indicator also closed on 295c/kg, a rise of 5 cents.

Cowra’s heavy lambs $6-$8 dearer

In New South Wales at the Cowra saleyards on Friday, the agents yarded 7900 lambs, 1900 more than last week, and 1550 sheep, 100 fewer.

The NLRS said lamb quality was good across all grades, with the heavy weights showing top condition. Mainly heavy lambs were penned along with a limited number of trade weights. Store lambs were well-supplied and all the usual buyers operated. Competition improved as the sale progressed resulting in a dearer market.

Light lambs sold to processors $7 dearer at $100-$104. Restocking lambs were down $6 and averaged around $85. Medium and heavy trade weights were $4-$6 dearer and averaged 580c/kg cwt. Most of the heavy trade weight lambs sold from $125-$135. Heavy weights were $6-$8 stronger and most sold from 555-580c/kg. A pen of extra heavy weight lambs topped at $188, with quite a few pens selling from $160-$175.

Mutton numbers were steady and quality was good with some larger sheep penned. Heavy first cross ewes were $12-$15dearer and averaged $90 or 300c/kg cwt. Heavy wethers sold to $100 or over 300c/kg cwt.

Griffith trade lambs lift $8-$10

At the Griffith saleyards on Friday, the agents yarded 6700 lambs, 200 fewer than last week, and 1200 sheep, 400 less.

The NLRS said lamb quality was similar to previous sales. There was a good selection of well-finished lambs, along with the plainer types. Heavy and extra heavy lambs were well-supplied. The usual buyers competed strongly in a dearer market.

Light lambs lifted $10 to $101-$110. Trade weights were $8-$10 at $111-$141. Heavy and extra heavy lambs lifted $10-$15. Heavy weights sold from $137-$149 and extra heavies made $153-$188. Carcase prices mostly ranged from 566-583c/kg.

Mutton quality varied. Prices showed a dearer trend, with Merino ewes selling from $72-$110. Crossbred ewes made $84-$100 and a line of Dorper ewes reached $97. Merino wethers ranged from $94-$116.

Shepparton lambs sell to $185

In Victoria at the Shepparton saleyards on Friday, the agents yarded 3150 lambs, 1400 more than last week, and 800 sheep, 400 less.

The last NLRS-reported Shepparton sheep and lamb sale until further notice was attended by the usual buyers. Quality overall was mixed, but one agent had an excellent lane of heavy and extra heavy weight lambs from 25-33kg cwt. These lambs sold $8-$10 higher than last week, while the small supply of trade weights were unchanged to dearer.

The light weight 2 score lambs sold from $55-$88 and light trade weight 2 and 3 scores made $75-$99. The 3 score medium to heavy weight trade lambs sold from $110-$124, or mostly 510-550c/kg cwt. Heavy weight 22-26kg 3 and 4 score lambs sold from $125-$153 and extra heavy weight 4 and 5 score lambs made $152-$174 — all mostly 530-560c/kg. The top pen of lambs made $185 and weighed an estimated 33kg cwt.

The light supply of sheep met with keener inquiry, but steady competition. Sheep were $10-$20 dearer than last week and heavy weight hoggets also made a lot more. The light weight 1 and 2 scores sold from $32-$47 and medium weight 2 and 3 scores made $65-$83. Heavyweight 3 and 4 score ewes sold from $75-$95,with a pen of extra heavy weight 5 scores at $110. The few heavy weight rams mainly sold from $45-$60, with one sale at $70. One pen of Merino ewes sold to a restocker for $122.

Sources: MLA, NLRS, AuctionsPlus.