ONLINE sheep buyers seeking productivity paid more for scanned in-lamb ewes on AuctionsPlus last week.

AuctionsPlus said prices for many stock categories corrected last week, as the current unpredictability of external market factors affected the industry.

Although many stock categories fell in value, many also increased, highlighting the volatility in the current market. The largest increase in prices was for scanned in-lamb first cross ewes with their average price lifting by $31 to $356.

First cross ewes generally increased in value by $25 to average $335, making $220 to $425. The top price was paid by a New South Wales buyer at Cowra for 382 2.5 year-old scanned in-lamb ewes at Ariah Park, NSW. The ewes weighed 84kgs and were joined to Poll Dorset rams. They had a 5cm fleece.

Goat offering clears well

Sheep, lamb and goat listings reduced by 37,182 head to 85,063 last week. This included an 83 percent clearance of the 3295 goats offered in the dedicated monthly sale. Overall, the smaller offering resulted in the average clearance increasing to 65pc across all sales, with plenty of post-sale negotiations underway.

The central west region of New South Wales continued to dominate online purchasing, as producers look to restock after a fantastic start to 2020, including more rain in the area last week. Central west NSW buyers secured 32pc of catalogue, well above the other regions. Riverina buyers bought 10pc of the offering.

Merino ewe lambs sell to $271

Merino ewe lambs sold from $155.50 to $271 and averaged $209, up $23. The top price was paid by a Victorian buyer at Bendigo for 470 May/June 2019 drop ewe lambs at Pyramid Hill, Victoria. The Wanganella blood lambs weighed 50kgs and had 5cm fleece.

Young Merino ewes, 2-4 years-old, averaged $243, up $3, and sold from $85 to $352. The top price was paid by NSW buyer at Condoblin for 223 3-4 year-old scanned in-lamb ewes at Howlong, NSW. The ewes weighed 59kgs and were joined to Poll Dorset rams.

Merino ewes four years and older sold from $86 to $285 and averaged $224, down $31. The top price was paid by a NSW buyer at Coolamon for 226 1.5-6 year-old scanned in-lamb Merino ewes at Alma in Victoria. The ewes weighed 65kgs, had a 2.5cm fleece and were in-lamb to Poll Dorset rams.

Merino wether lamb prices slip

Merino wether lambs sold from $75 to $178 and averaged $137, down $3. A NSW buyer at Bathurst paid the top price for 570 July-September 2019 drop wether lambs at Cumnock, NSW. The Roseville Park blood lambs weighed 41kgs and carried a 5cm fleece.

Merino wethers averaged $143, down $16, and sold from $119 to $152. The top price was by a local buyer for 1000 1.5 year-old Merino wethers at Longreach, Queensland. The wethers weighed 54kgs and had a 5cm fleece.

First cross ewe lamb prices drop $17

First cross ewe lambs fell by $17 to average $234, selling from $175 to $261. The top prices was paid by a Victorian buyer at Hamilton for 145 June-July 2019 drop lambs at Lake Fyans in Victoria. The lambs weighed 46kgs and carried a 5cm fleece.

Other highlights included 440 July-August 2019 drop White Dorper mixed sex lambs at Bollon in Queensland making $148 with a NSW buyer at Trangie. The lambs weighed 24kgs. At Whyalla Norrie in South Australia, 375 June-August 2019 drop White Dorper mixed sex lambs weighing 26kgs sold for $130 to a Victorian buyer at Stawell.

Tasmanian sheep sale clears offering

The Tasmanian Sheep sale resulted in a 100pc clearance of the 1370 head offered. Highlights included 100 18-20 month-old Coopworth ewes joined to Poll Dorset rams at Cressy making $277 with a Longford buyer. The ewes weighed 65kgs.

Online store lamb prices lift slightly

AuctionsPlus offered 11,265 store lambs last week, down 3606 head on the previous week. They sold from 325-650c/kg liveweight, and averaged 475c/kg, up 6c/kg. A 99pc clearance was achieved.

Highlights included:

–       Nov/Dec 19’ – 24kg 1st X Poll Dorset/Merino mixed sex suckers from EUCHAREENA, New South Wales sold for $145 or 614

–       July/Dec 19’ – 26kg Pure and 2nd X White Dorper mixed sex lambs from BOLLON, Queensland sold for $148 or 609c

–       Sept/Oct 19’ – 26kg 1st X Suffolk/Merino mixed sex store lambs from GUNNING, New South Wales for $148.50 or 592c

–       July/Oct 19’ – 24kg White Dorper store wether lambs from MOREE, New South Wales sold for $134 or 558c

–       Sept/Oct 19’ – 41kg Dorset/Composite trade wether lambs from NANGWARRY, South Australia sold for $164 or 416c

–       July/Aug-19 – 39kg 1s X Poll Dorset/Merino mixed sex store lambs from ENEABBA, Western Australia sold for $143.64 or 380c