DEMAND was strong for Merino and first cross ewe lambs on AuctionsPlus last week, but prices increased for all sheep and lamb categories with support from restockers and processors.

The online sheep and lamb offering rose to 124,200 last week, boosted by 14,342 head in the Jamestown store sheep market in South Australia and 1420 in the Riverbend saleyard interface in Western Australia.

New South Wales’ Riverina and central west regions, and Victoria continue to dominate buying. The offerings rose in New South Wales (66,174, up 21,000), South Australia (35,659, up 23,000) Tasmania (1727, up 1577), the Australian Capital Territory (2670, up 1110) and Western Australia (1420, up 1420). Offerings dropped in Victoria (14,675, down 1678) and in Queensland (1875, down 1420). Clearances peaked at 100 percent for the Tasmanian sheep sale.

Merino ewe lambs sell to $231

Merino ewe lambs sold from $77 to $231, to average $162, up $26 on the previous week, with the category returning a 92pc clearance. A line of Collinsville and Belbourie blood future breeder lambs weighing 54kgs, returned the top price. Merino ewe hoggets averaged $218, up $8 on last week, selling from $74 to $335. From West Wyalong, NSW a line of NSM ewes, Jandon Park blood, 13-14 months old and weighing 53kgs returned $218 and will travel across the border to VIC.

Merino ewes 2-4 years-old sold from $143 to $238 and averaged $201, up $20. A line of unjoined rising three year-old ewes at Coonalpyn, SA, weighing 49kgs made $185. Proven Merino breeders four years-old and older sold from $100 to $218, averaging $160, up $19. At Nyngan, NSW a line of rising four year-old Mumblebone blood ewes sold for $183. A line of rising four year-old, Springvale North blood scanned empty ewes weighing 68kgs made $212 in the Jamestown interfaced sale.

Merino wether lambs reach $175

Merino wether lambs sold from $46 to $175, averaging $124, up $11 on the previous week. The top price was paid for a line of Maratala blood lambs weighing 49kgs at Coomandook, SA. Merino wethers averaged $112, up $16, and sold from $97 up to $118 for two year-old Goldlea blood wethers weighing 43kgs at Ararat in Victoria.

First cross ewe lambs make to $241

First cross ewe lamb prices continue to jump, averaging $204, up $18 on the previous week, and selling from $133 to $241. At Naracoorte, SA, a line of Coolawang and Morton blood lambs weighing 35kgs made $227 with a Victorian buyer. First cross ewe hoggets sold from $158 to $261, to average $217, up $22. The top price was paid a line of 16-17 month-old Vanita blood scanned empty ewe hoggets weighing 55kgs at Lochaber, SA. At the Riverbend sale yard interface sale in Western Australia a line of 12-18 month-old Riverbend blood ewe hoggets weighing 42kgs sold for $202 to a Victorian buyer.

Other highlights included $200 for a line of September-October 2018 drop White Suffolk/Poll Merino ewe lambs weighing 58kgs at Forbes, NSW. At Tottenham, NSW, a line of 1-3 year-old Dorper ewes scanned in-lamb to Dorper rams and weighing 51kgs sold for $186. A line of 16-17 month Dohne ewe hoggets at Hallett, SA, weighing 51kgs made $228.

Store lamb supply increasing

Increased store lamb supply continues to see clearance soften slightly with an 80pc clearance achieved for the 30,432 head offered. Averaging 411c, up 8c on last week, prices ranged from 320c to 508c. Store lamb highlights include:

–          Jul/Aug ’19, 19kg 1st cross Border Leicester/Merino mixed sex store lambs from Nyngan, NSW sold for $148 or 508c live

–          Jul/Jul ’19, 23kg 1st cross Dorset Horn/Poll Merino mixed sex suckers from Arthurville, NSW sold for $111 or 493c live

–          Jul/Aug ’19, 21kg 1st cross White Suffolk/Merino mixed sex suckers from Wellington, NSW sold for $100.5 or 490c

–          May/Jun ’19, 44kg 2nd X Dorset mixed sex store lambs from Benalla, VIC sold for $170 or 412c live

–          Jun/Jul ’19, 27kg 2nd X Poll Dorset mixed sex suckers from Goondiwindi, QLD sold for $106.5 or 400c live

–          May/Jun ’19, 45kg 2nd X Merino/Dohne wether lambs from Tintinara, SA sold for 145 or 325c live