RAIN reduced AuctionsPlus sheep and lamb listings last week, but improved the online saleyard platform’s clearance rates.

With general rain across parts of central and southern Queensland, and northern, central and southern New South Wales, online sheep and lamb numbers fell 3289 to 58,966 head.

However, with renewed confidence among restockers, the National Lamb Sale achieved a 95 percent clearance, AuctionsPlus reported.

First cross ewe lambs to $288

There was strong interstate competition on first cross ewe lambs and hoggets last week, which averaged $221 and made from $134 up to $288 for 310 March-April 2018 drop mid-September shorn lambs at Narromine in New South Wales. The unjoined lambs weighed 44.4kg and were mostly score 3.

A line 170 unjoined 17 month-old late July-shorn hoggets at Ariah Park, in New South Wale’s Riverina region sold for $275. They weighed57.5kg liveweight and were mostly score 4 in condition. Other notable sales, and both to South Australian buyers, included $270 for a line of 12-14 month-old 55kg ewe hoggets at Rushworth in Victoria that sold to a South Australian buyer, and $272-$273 for 17-18 month-old ewes at Benalla in Victoria.

A line 150 two year-old early June shorn first cross ewes with 214 4-6 week-old Poll Dorset lambs at Levendale, Tasmania, sold for $309. The ewes weighed 60kg and were mostly score 2.

Merino ewe lambs to $234

There was also strong buyer interest in Merino ewe hoggets and lambs this week. Merino ewe lambs sold to $234 for 181 unjoined mid-September shorn lambs at Tomingley in central west New South Wales. The lambs weighed 51.9kg, were mostly score 3 and drew from as far south as Victoria.

Merino ewe hoggets sold from $65 up to $215 for a line of 15-16 month-old unjoined hoggets at Buckleboo in South Australia. The late July shorn hoggets weighed 61.3kg and were mostly score 3.

Grown Merino ewes sold from $60 to $201 and averaged $142. The top-priced line of 275 3-4 year-old mid-May shorn ewes weighed 64.9kg and were mostly score 2. A line of 159 early October shorn two year-old Merino ewes with 165 1-2 month-old Poll Dorset and White Suffolk lambs at Henty, NSW sold for $223.

Merino wethers lambs sell to $106

AuctionsPlus offered about 9100 new season Merino wether lambs last week and 92pc were sold. Merino wether lambs sold from $53 to $106 and averaged $78. A line of 150 April/May drop mid-September score 2 shorn lambs weighing 37.5kg at Wilmington in South Australia sold for $106 to Victorian.

Merino wether hoggets sold from $65 to $116 with an average of $87.50. The top-priced line was 440 18-19 month old mid-August shorn score 2 Goolgumbla blood wethers at Euroa in Victoria that weighed 48.6kg.

AuctionsPlus said processors made their presences felt in the online auctions, paying up to $140 or 354c/kg livweight for Poll Dorset cross new season lambs at Benalla In Victoria.  A line of 42kg May/June 2018 drop Dohne lambs at Tintinara in SA sold for $120 to 285c/kg lwt. Lighter 32kg July/August 2018 drop Merino wether lambs at Young, NSW, made $85 or 264c/kg lwt.

New season lamb highlights

Poll Dorset cross, May/June ‘18 drop, 40kg, $145 or 356c/kg lwt, Benalla, Victoria

Poll Dorset cross, May/June ’18 drop, 40kg, $10.50 or 347c/kg, Benalla, Victoria

Poll Dorset cross, May/June ‘18 drop, 36kg, $139.50 or 380c/kg, Yass, NSW

Poll Dorset cross, May/June ‘18 drop, 36kg, $138.50 or 377c/kg, Yass, NSW

Poll Dorset cross, May/June ‘18 drop, 35kg, $133 or 370c/kg, Undera, Victoria

Poll Dorset cross, April/May ‘18 drop, $129.50 or 423c/kg, 30kg, Eugowra, NSW

Poll Dorset cross, May/June ‘18 drop, 33kg, $127 or 374c/kg, Marrar, NSW

Poll Dorset cross, June/July ‘18 drop, 35kg, $126.50 or 361c/kg, Benalla, Victoria

White Suffolk cross, May/June ‘18 drop, 41kg, $125.50 or 305c/kg, Willalooka, SA

Source: AuctionsPlus.