ONLY scanned in-lamb first cross ewes held or increased their value in AuctionsPlus online sheep sales last week as the national offering increased.

AuctionsPlus offered 83,087 sheep and lambs last week, an increase of 10,019 head.

First cross ewe lamb numbers were down; however, demand remained strong with the category achieving the only price increase for the week.

Ewes with lambs and Merino wethers help make up the numbers, with an increase of more than 4000 head across the categories. Buyers in Central West New South Wales were the most active last week, securing nearly 11,000 head, of which 9200 were ewes or ewe lambs.

Scanned Merino ewe hoggets make to $310

Merino ewe lambs sold from $121.5 to $303, to average $193, down $52. The top price went to a line from A/c ‘SJ & LM Cadzow’ Spalding, SA. These lambs are bred from Baderloo Poll Merino bloodlines, are May/ July 2019 drop and weigh 56kgs with a 3+” skin.

Merino ewe hoggets sold from $150 to $310, to average $250 down $11. The top price went to a line of Nerstane & Yalgoo blood Merino hoggets, offered by A/c ‘Lisle Pastoral’ Walcha, NSW and are heading to their new home in Leeton, NSW. These ewes are 20 to 22 months, weighing 50kgs with a 2.5” skin. The ewes are also scanned in lamb (SIL) to North South and Chain-O-Pond Border Leicester rams. Another highlight includes a line of Moorundie Park blood Poll Merino ewes, aged 20 to 21 months, weighing 60.5kgs with a 2.5” skin and are SIL to White Suffolk rams selling for $300.

Young Merino breeders (2-4 years) sold from $190 to $283, holding firm to average $251. The top prices went to a line of North Ashrose and Banoon blood ewes from A/c ‘GJ & LJ McGurk’ Charlton, VIC. These ewes are 3 years old, weigh 61kgs with a ¾” skin and SIL to Border Leicester rams.

Proven Merino breeders (4 years and older) sold from $162 to $260, to average $222, down $28. The top price went to a line of Wanganella blood ewes from A/c ‘GS & RJ Baker’ Tullamore, NSW. These ewes are 3 to 7 years, weigh 66kgs with fresh ¼” skin and are SIL to Border Leicester rams. Another highlight saw a line of Inglewood blood ewes, aged 5.5 years, weighing 55kgs with a 2” skin and SIL Border Leicester and Merino rams from Warroo, NSW selling for $250 and heading just over the border to a buyer from Myers Flat, VIC.

Merino wether lambs average $135

Merino wether lambs sold from $107 to $164, to average $135, down $14. The top price went to a line of Alfoxton & Cressbrook blood wethers by A/c ‘T & S Sloman’, Dundee, NSW. These lambs are September/ October 2019 drop and weigh 43kgs with a 2” skin. From Cunnamulla, QLD a line of Haddon Rig blood wether lambs sold for $163 to a buyer in Scone, NSW. These wethers are October/ November 2019 drop and weigh 49kgs with a 2.5” skin.

Merino wethers sold from $100 to $160, to average $133, down $11. From Benalla, VIC a line of 185 Toland blood wethers achieved the top price. These wethers are 13 to 14 months and weigh 50kgs with a 3+” skin. Looking to Longreach, QLD a line of Yalgoo blood wethers, aged 13 to 15 months, weighing 48kgs with a 2” skin sold for $140 and are heading to Bourke, NSW.

Scanned first cross ewes peak at $390

First cross ewe lambs sold from $279 to $328, to average $289, up $18. The top price went to two lines from A/c ‘Brien Partnership’ Wellington, NSW. These lambs are bred from Bella Lana blood Merino ewes and Bindaree Border Leicester rams, July/ September 2019 drop and weighing 53kgs, and going to a buyers in Goulburn and Woodstock, NSW.

First cross ewes sold from $312 to $390, to average $371, up $11. From A/c ‘DJ & MP Watt’, Trundle, NSW a line of 1 year old, 65kg ewes returned the top price. These ewes are SIL to Poll Dorset rams and are off to a new paddock in Barellan, NSW.

Across the strait to Tasmania a total of 572 head were listed. Highlights included SIL Coopworth ewe lambs from Bruny Island, August/ September 2019 drop, weighing 47kgs, SIL to Coopworth rams, selling for $241. Again, from Bruny Island a line of SIL Coopworth ewes, aged 2 to 5 years, weighing 74kgs and are SIL to Coopworth rams sold for $240.

Store lamb rates come back

AuctionsPlus offered 2415 store lambs last week and they sold from 238-536c/kg liveweight, to average 404c/kg, back 62 cents on the previous week. Highlights included:

–          Mar/Apr 19’ drop, 35kg, Border Leicester/ Merino mixed sex lambs from PARKES, New South Wales sold for $188 or 536c

–          Mar/Apr 19’ drop, 23kg,  White Suffolk/ Merino mixed sex lambs from PINAROO, South Australia sold for $117.5 or 522c

–          Apr/ May 19’ drop, 31kg, White Suffolk/ Merino mixed sex lambs from CALOOTE, South Australia sold for $128.5 or 417c

–          April 19’ drop, 37kg, White Suffolk/ SAMM mixed sex lambs from MINDARIE, South Australia sold for $148.5 or 405c