WIDESPREAD rain boosted national online AuctionsPlus sheep and lamb listings and maintained buyer confidence last week.

AuctionsPlus commercial market operator Holly Baker said sheep and lamb numbers increased by 30,167 head to 77,325.

With widespread rainfall across many areas of Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, the overall clearance rate across all sales was 88 percent, only slightly down from last week’s 90pc.

“Central West, NSW was the strongest purchasing region for the second time this month securing 13,488 head,” she said.

First cross ewe lamb average jumps $41 to $221

Ms Baker said average prices across the board have continued to increase over the last three weeks, with the most significant jump last week being a $41 rise in average price paid for in first cross ewe lambs to $221.

Ms Baker said more than 5000 Merino ewe lambs were offered and demand matched the offering, with a 93pc clearance achieved. Prices ranged from $85 to $205 and averaged $167, slightly down from $174 last week. The top price was paid for 243 April/May 2019 drop Banavie blood Merino ewe lambs weighing 45kgs at Wallaloo east in Victoria. A buyer from Stawell paid $205 for the lambs. Across the border at Kulpara, South Australia, 220 April/June 2019 drop Gunbar blood ewe lambs weighing 43kgs sold for $184 to a buyer at Ouyen, Victoria. The ewe lambs were one lot from a line of 880 offered by the same vendor.

Merino ewe hoggets sell to $250

Merino ewe hoggets sold from $121 to $250, averaging $179, down $47. The top price was paid by a Dubbo buyer for 340 unjoined Autumn and Spring 2018 drop Mumblebone blood ewes weighing 47kgs at Wellington NSW. A run of 1185 17-18 month-old Merino ewe hoggets, split into three lots, achieved high prices of $196, $195 and $194 at Madurama, NSW. The Coddington Poll-Severn Park blood ewes weighed 52kgs and were sold to buyers at Eugowra, NSW, and Gatum in Victoria.

Young Merino ewes make $273

Merino ewes 2-4 years-old sold from $125 to $273, averaging $218, up $2. The top price was paid for 464 August/September 2017 drop Egalabra blood ewes at Bellata, NSW, that weighed 47kgs and were scanned in-lamb to Border Leicester rams. Vendors at Lock, SA, sold their complete 2017 drop of 345 unjoined Greenfields blood ewes for $245 to a Victorian buyer at Mildura. Merino ewes 4-7 years-old sold for $100 and $231 to average $156, an increase of $9. The highest-priced lot was 298 unjoined 4.5 year-old Woodpark blood ewes weighing 70kgs at Wyalong, NSW. They were sold to a Victorian buyer at Elmore. A line of 175 unjoined Kerrsville and Nerstane blood ewes weighing 63kgs at Coojar in Victoria sold for $170 to buyers at Byaduk in Victoria.

Merino wethers lift $5 to average $113

Merino wether lambs sold from $70 to $151, averaging $113, up $5. The top price was paid by a Stawell buyer for 202 April/May 2019 drop Banavie blood wether lambs weighing 46kgs at Wallaloo east, Victoria. A line of 245 Pure Grass blood store wether lambs weighing 37kgs at Trangie, NSW, sold for $141 at a Tamworth buyer.

Grown Merino wethers made $80 to $146, averaging $127, up $10. The top price was paid for 175 rising three year-old Merryville blood wethers weighing 54 kgs at Balmoral, Victoria, by a Wycheproof buyer.

First cross ewe lambs peak at $289

First cross ewe lambs sold from $143 to $289 on AuctionsPlus last week, averaging $221, up $41. The top prices was paid for 400 April/May 2019 drop lambs at Collingullie NSW weighing 53kgs. They were bought by buyers at Penola, SA, Nathalia, Victoria, and Wagga Wagga, NSW. The vendors from Collingullie had the eight top-priced lots of first cross lambs in the sale and a further five lots.

First cross ewes sold from $180 to $270 and averaged $220. The highest price went to 150 unjoined 15-16 month-old ewe hoggets weighing 52kgs at Cooma, NSW. A line of 185 three year-old first cross ewes weighing 54kgs at Emu in Victoria made $239.

Other highlights included 360 mixed sex, crossbred lambs at Mortlake VIC selling for $177 to buyers in Kyneton Victoria. White Dorper and Dorper cross ewes weighing 68kgs at Balranald NSW sold for $180 to a Victorian buyer at Swan Hill.

Online store lamb offering increased

The store lamb offering increased this week with 16,865 crossbred lambs available, up 30,167 from last. Some highlights included:

–              Sept/Oct 19, 22kg 1st X White Suffolk/Merino mixed sex store lambs from WALCHA, NSW sold for $115 or 516c/kg live

–              Sept/Nov 19, 24kg 2nd X Poll Dorset mixed sex suckers from TARALGA, NSW sold for $118 or 494c/kg live

–              Aug/Sept 19, 28kg 2nd X Dorset mixed sex suckers from DUBBO, NSW sold for $133 or 482c/kg live

–              Sept/Oct 19, 27kg 2nd X White Suffolk mixed sex store lambs from BLACK SPRINGS, NSW sold for $127 or 474c/kg live

–              Sept/Oct 19, 30kg 1st X Poll Dorset/Composite mixed sex lambs from NIMMITABEL, NSW sold for $141 or 472c/kg live

–              Sept/Oct 19, 31kg 1st X White Suffolk/Merino mixed sex lambs from DUNEDOO, NSW sold for $136 or 433c/kg