RESTOCKERS and breeders took advantage of softer prices for Merino ewes and wethers on AuctionsPlus last week.
Online sheep and lamb numbers by about 11,000 to 47,410 head last week, although store lamb numbers held firm and more Merino wethers were offered.
Producers offered about 15,000 Merino ewe and ewe lambs, about 9000 fewer than the previous week.
Signs of hope for seasonal rainfall in the southern states lead to about 10,000 sheep and lambs selling into Victoria, South Australia or Tasmania. Great opportunities presented for restockers and breeders last week, AuctionsPlus said.
Merino ewe prices dip $4-$8
Merino ewe values succumbed to the softer market and prices for 2-4 year-old Merino breeders continued to steady, falling $4 to average $137. Quality varied and prices ranged from $80.50 up to $215, for a line of 4 year-old ewes scanned in-lamb to White Suffolk rams weighing 55kg at Euroa in Victoria that sold to New South Wales buyer at Morven. A line of unjoined 1.5-3.5 year-old 50kg ewes at Cunnamulla in Queensland sold for $167.
Prices for older Merino breeders, 4-6 years-old experienced the same trend, falling $8 to average $124. The offering was again mixed in quality, with prices ranging from $72 up to $169 for a line of 2.5-6.5 year-old 56kg ewes scanned in-lamb to Poll Dorset rams at Maroon in Victoria.
Merino wether lamb price average drops $25
The offering of Merino wether and wether lambs increased by 2500 to 10,500. Buyers capitalised on the softer market with a 87pc clearance as the average price for wether lambs fell by $25 to $74. Merino wether prices varied from $33.50 up to $146.50 for a line of 2.5-3.5 year-old 48kg wethers carrying a 5cm fleece at Nimmitabel, NSW.
Scanned first cross ewes to $257.50
AuctionsPlus said first cross ewes sparked buyer interest last week. The top ewe lamb price of $180 was paid for a line of July-August drop lambs weighing 54kg at Tunbridge in Tasmania. Three lines of first cross hoggets and three lines aged 2.5 years offered by one vendor in Maroona, Victoria. A line of 2.5 year-old ewes scanned in-lamb to Poll Dorset rams sold for $257.50.
Store lamb highlights
Poll Dorset/Meatplus cross lambs, 45kg lwt, $139, July-Aug ‘17 drop, , Cootamundra, NSW
Poll Dorset cross lambs, 37kg, $133, Aug-Sept ‘17 drop, Crookwell, NSW
Texel/Merino cross lambs, 43kg, $129.50, Aug-Sept ‘17 drop, Narrabri, NSW
Poll Dorset cross lambs, 39kg, $128.50, Aug-Sept ‘17 drop, Guyra, NSW
Poll Dorset/Merino cross lambs, 38kg, $126, Aug-Oct ‘17 drop, Carcoar, NSW
Poll Dorset cross lambs, 33kg, $123.50, Aug-Sept ‘17 drop, Crookwell, NSW
Composite lambs, 36kg, $112.50, June-July ‘17 drop, Cavendish, Victoria
SAMM/Merino wether lambs, 34kg, $107, May-July ‘17 drop, Orroroo, SA
Source: AuctionsPlus.
