These 2.5-3.5 year-old mid-March shorn ewes sold for $297 at Wanganella, NSW, on AuctionsPlus last week.

PRICES for young Merino ewes surged on AuctionsPlus in a reduced online offering last week, driven by continued strong buying into the central west and Riverina regions of New South Wales.

AuctionsPlus last week offered 108,327 sheep and lambs last week, 75,000 fewer than the previous week’s record-breaking throughput.

NSW regions continued to dominate online purchases, with the central west securing 15,290 head and Riverina producers buying 12,515 head.

Numbers were boosted by 5239 head in Western Australia’s Back to the Wheatbelt Sheep Sale interfaced online for the second consecutive year.

AuctionsPlus said the reduced online supply nationally ensured demand remained strong and 83pc of lots in the weekly commercial sales were sold. Prices remained firm, with increases in several categories.

Young Merino ewes sell to $297

Young Merino ewes 2-4 years-old recorded the biggest prices increases, selling from $174 to $297 to average $250, up $45. The top price was paid for a line of rising 3-4 year-old Avenel blood ewes from the Millabong Pastoral Company at Wanganella, NSW. The ewes carried a 6.25cm fleece, weighed 71kgs and sold to a South Australian buyer at Keppoch. From Willalooka, SA, A line of recently shorn 38-39 month-old Sohnic blood ewes weighing 65kgs from R.D. & J.A. Hunt at Willalooka made $230.

Merino ewe lambs sold from $147 to $249 and averaged $211, up $19. The top price was paid for a line of Weeala blood August/September 2019 drop lambs weighing 52kg and with a 4cm fleece from Noan Pastoral Co at Quambone, NSW. A line of Banavie blood August/September 2019 drop lambs weighing 48kg from A.B. & L.K. Coghlan at Lillicur in Victoria sold for $190.

Merino ewe hoggets sold from $186 to $306, averaging $249, down $17. The top price was paid for a line of 14-16 month-old Ridgeway Advance blood ewes weighing 78kg and with 6cm fleeces from J.J. Hallam Pty. Ltd at Hopetown in Victoria. They sold to a South Australian buyer at Naracoorte. A line of 16-17 month old Kolindale blood ewes weighing 59kgs from CMH Agri Pty Ltd at Gnowangerup, Western Australia sold for $249 to a NSW buyer at Deniliquin.

Older Merino ewes sell to $274

Proven Merino ewes, 4 years and older, sold from $139 to $274, averaging $197, up $6. The top price was paid for a line rising 5 year-old Woodpark Poll blood ewes weighing 85kgs and with 4cm fleeces G.R. Tidd at Ariah Park, NSW. A line of 7 year-old ewes, scanned in-lamb to Poll Dorset and White Suffolk rams, weighing 79kg and with 7cm fleeces, from W.J. & V.H. Hill at Uranquinty, NSW, sold for $244.

Merino wether lamb prices keep rising

Merino wether lambs sold from $97 to $184 and averaged $135, up $12. The top price was paid for a line of September/October 19’ drop Mullengudery blood lambs weighing 61kgs and with 2.5cm fleeces from T.A. & D.F. Dune at Cobar, NSW. A line of April/May 2020 drop Sohnic blood wether suckers weighing 34kgs from D.J. Flanagan at Kooreh sold for $137.50.

Merino wethers sold from $115 to $145, averaging $127, up $3. The top price was paid for a line of 4-7 year-old wethers weighing 59kg and with 2.5cm fleece from P.R. & J.L. Kirby at St George, Queensland.

First cross ewe lambs sell to $370

First cross ewe lambs sold from $182 to $370 to average $272, down $20. The top price as paid for 11-12 month empty ewes weighing 62kgs from the Harvey Oxford Pastoral Co at Ivanhoe, NSW. A line of March/April 2020 drop ewes weighing 50kgs from B.C. & E.A. Markey at Coonamble, NSW, made $297.

First cross ewe hoggets sold from $250 to $418 and averaged $333. The top price was paid for a line of 15 month-old ewes with 5-8 week-old White Suffolk cross lambs from Linmooe Pty Ltd at Douglas in Victoria.

Scanned pregnant Dorper ewes make $375

A line of 12-13 month-old Dorper ewes weighing 52kgs and scanned in-lamb to Dorper and White Dorper rams from B.J. Smith at Tilpa, NSW, sold for $375 to a Victorian buyer at Bears Lagoon. A line of 14-15 month-old Dohne ewes weighing 72kgs from D.H, R.R. Agnew and Sons from Stansbury, South Australia, made $260.

Store lamb prices lift

AuctionsPlus offered 15,855 store lambs last week, 5321 fewer. Demand increased with 99pc of the offering clearing for 305-731c/kg liveweight, to average 395c/kg, up 44 cents. Highlights included:

–              Jun/Jul 20’ drop, 19kg Border Leicester/Merino mixed sex suckers from GILGANDRA, New South Wales sold for 731c or $136

–              May/Jun 20’ drop, 27kg White Suffolk/Merino wether lambs from BALRANALD, New South Wales sold for 500c or $130.5

–              Jun/Jul 20’ drop, 35kg Highlander weather suckers from KINGSCOTE, South Australia sold for 393c or $137.5

–              Apr/May 20’ drop, 44kg Dorset/Merino and Suffolk/Merino mixed sex store lambs from TRUNDLE, New South Wales sold for 376c or $165.5

–              May/Jul 20’ drop, 42kg White Suffolk/Merino mixed sex suckers from EUROA, Victoria sold for 383c or $160.5

–              May/Jun 20’ drop, 42kg Border Leicester/Merino store wether lambs, NHILL, Victoria sold for 341c or $144