WIDESPREAD rain and encouraging forecasts is maintaining sheep and lamb clearance rates on Australia’s online saleyard, AuctionsPlus.

AuctionsPlus sheep and lamb numbers last week decreased by 20,954 to 57,937 head and 87 percent were sold, just 1pc lower than the previous week.

Central Western New South Wales was the strongest purchasing region for the third time this year, securing 9799 head. Prices across most categories remained steady, though rates were lower for Merino ewe lambs and scanned in-lamb Merino ewes. The average price for first cross ewe lambs jumped $28 to $248.

The online Merino ewe lamb offering dropped from 5000 to only 1325 and the clearance 24pc to 69pc. Prices ranged from $122-$186 and averaged $144, down $43 from last week. The top price was paid for 249 lambs at Warrenm NSW, that weighed 33.6kg. Another 60 lambs at Minalton, South Australia, weighing 49.1kg sold for $185.

Merino ewe hoggets and mature ewes sell to $261

Merino ewe hoggets sold from $110-$261 for an average of $202, up $6. The top price was paid for 382 hoggets weighing 47.1kg at Manilla NSW that sold to Victorian buyer at Hensley Park near Hamilton. In NSW, 197 hoggets sold to $230 for a line 45.7kg.

Young Merino ewes made $160-$291 and averaged $5 better at $223. The top price was paid for 145 S34-45 month-old scanned in-lamb ewes at Keith, SA, weighing in at 65kg The lighter end of these sheep (59kg) from the same vendor made $275. Unjoined Merino ewes sold for up $237 at Ararat, for 420, 2-3 year-olds weighing 54kg. Proven Merino ewes made $133-$261 and averaged $178, up $22.

Merino wether lambs make $147

Merino wether lambs sold from $72-$147, averaging $117 up $10 on the five-week average. The top price was paid for 360 wethers at The Rock, NSW. A line of 590 Winyar Merino blood wether lambs weighing in at 26kg averaged 504c/kg at Bungendore, NSW.

Grown Merino wethers sold from $92-$168 and averaged $136, up $9 on last week and up $13 on the five-week rolling average. The top price was paid for 284 Bogo blood wethers at Bookham, NSW, that weighed 54kg.

First cross ewe lambs sell to $320

First cross ewe lambs sold from $170-$320 and averaged $248. The second consecutive lift in prices was attributed to the Narrandera sale, where Pooginook and Kegra Super bloodlines combined in a lot of 146 ewe lambs that made $320. At Seymour in Victoria, a line of 125 first cross ewe lambs sold for $261 or 600c/kg liveweight.

First cross ewe prices ranged from $241-$301 to average $265, up $45 on the previous week and up $17 on the five-week average. All ewes offered last week were scanned in-lamb. The top price was paid for 250 ewes at Cowra, NSW. They weighed in at 78kg and were sold to a Goulburn buyer.

Store lamb offering drops

The store lamb offering decreased slightly last week, with 14,398 head listed, 2467 down. The smaller listing and increased demand resulted in a 96pc clearance. Highlights included:

–              June/Aug-19, 26kg Poll Dorset Cross Mixed Sex Lambs from YETMAN New South Wales sold for $128 or 512c/kg live

–              June/Jul-19, 40kg Poll Dorset/Primeline Store Wether Lambs from GOULBURN New South Wales sold for $174 or 446c/kg live

–              Aug/Sep-19, 39kg White Suffolk Cross Mixed Sex Lambs from ARARAT Victoria sold for $162 or 438c/kg live

–              July/Aug-19, 38kg Border Leicester/Merino Store Wether Lambs from TRANGIE New South Wales sold for $157 or 425c/kg live

–              July/Aug-18, 37kg Dorper and Dorper/White Dorper Mixed Sex Lambs from CUNNAMULLA Queensland sold for $143 or 395c/kg live

–              Apr-19, 44kg White Suffolk/Poll Merino and Suffolk/Poll Merino Mixed Sex Lambs from KANMANTOO South Australia sold for $157 or 376c/kg live