LARGE numbers of lambs continued to move southward out New South Wales, as the state dominated online AuctionsPlus listings last week.

AuctionsPlus market operation supervisor Tom Rookyard said online sheep and lamb listings dipped by just over 4000 head last week to 50,042.

“New South Wales continued to dominate the listings with 75 percent of the offering.

“The strong market continued this week with an 84pc clearance across all sales,” he said.

Last week’s online lamb sale attracted plenty of interstate buyers, especially from the southern states. South Australian buyers purchased 26pc of the New South Wales lambs, including a line of 12-13 month-old unjoined first cross ewe hoggets at Thallon, Queensland, that sold to a buyer at Spence, South Australia, 1600 kilometres away. Victorian buyers purchased lambs from as far north as Collarenebri in New South Wales.

Merino ewe lambs sell to $233

Merino ewe lambs averaged $157, selling from $54.50 to $233. The top-priced line were 11-12 month-old, unjoined future breeders at Nyngan, NSW. A line of unjoined 14-15 month-old Merino ewes made $202 and came from Gulargambone, NSW.

Older unjoined Merino ewes averaged $151, ranging from $82-$202. Merino ewes with lambs sold to $230.50 for a line of 2 year-old, 53kg Greenfields blood ewes with Poll Merino lambs at Jamestown, SA.

Merino wethers lambs make to $132

Merino wether lambs firmed on last week with a national average of $76 and selling from $32.50 to $128. The top-price line were April/May 18’ drop, Greenfield blood wool growers from Tintinara, SA.

Mr Rookyard said there was strong buyer interest in Merino wethers and a 100pc clearance was achieved nationally. The top-priced line of 42kg 12-13 month-old Kerri Kerri blood woolly wethers, were at Maude, NSW, and sold for $123. Grown Merino wethers sold from $69.50-$123, with an average of $88.

First cross ewes and lambs sell to $234

First cross ewes and ewe lambs sold to $234 for a line of 58kg Aug/Sept 2017 drop future breeders at Violet Town in Victoria. Ewe lambs averaged $177 and sold from $150 to $234. A line of 3-8 year-old unjoined first cross ewes with Poll Dorset and White Suffolk lambs at Blayney, NSW, sold for $231. A line 6-8 year-old first cross ewes with Yarram Park blood Composite lambs at Cavendish, VIC sold for $220.

New season lamb highlights

Mar/Apr-18 drop Meatplus Mixed Sex Suckers from Cootamundra New South Wales weighing 39kg, sold for $146.5

May/Jun-18 drop 2ndX Dorset Mixed Sex Suckers from Gundagai New South Wales weighing 34kg, sold for $141

Apr/May-18 drop Border Leicester/Merino Mixed Sex Lambs from Gilgandra New South Wales weighing 33kg, sold for $138

Apr/May-18 drop 2ndX White Suffolk Mixed Sex Suckers from Bethungra New South Wales weighing 33kg, sold for $132

Apr/May-18 drop Merino Store Wether Lambs from Tintinara South Australia weighing 34kg, sold for $128

Apr/Jun-18 drop White Suffolk/Merino Mixed Sex Store Lambs from Karoonda South Australia weighing 33kg, sold for $127.5

Apr/May-18 drop Merino Wether Lambs from Mindarie South Australia weighing 38kg, sold for $127

Apr/May-18 drop Merino Store Wether Lambs from Tintinara South Australia weighing 33kg, sold for $126

Source: AuctionsPlus.