These March-April 2024 drop Merino wether lambs weighing 38.9kg lwt at Weethalle in NSW sold for $105 on AuctionsPlus last week.

AUCTIONSPLUS sold more of a reduced offering of commercial sheep and lambs last week, boosted by stronger competition.

The total offering reduced 19,288 head to 95,833 and the overall clearance rose from 51 percent the previous week to 63pc.

AuctionsPlus said buyers showed stronger competition, driving the value over reserve up by $5 to an average of $7 per head.

There was a smaller shedding breed lamb offering of 868 head, with prices averaging $140/head for a 100pc clearance.

The average price paid for Merino wethers rose $13 to $81 and AuctionsPlus sold 83pc of the 2320-head offering.

The 69,405 new season lambs made up 73pc of the total offering. The average price per head rose $4 to $118. The clearance rate was 63pc.

New South Wales and Victoria were the most dominant listing states. The NSW offering increased 8438 to 42,924 head. Victorian producers offered 32,989 head.

NSW also remained the leading purchasing state, buying 28,328 head. Purchasing activity increased in South Australia and Queensland, with South Australia purchasing an additional 4972 head to reach 10,006 for the week.

At Evansford in Victoria, 200 mixed sex June 2024 drop White Suffolk cross lambs weighing 41kg lwt sold for $152/head, or 371c/kg, to a buyer in Penola, South Australia.

At Junee Reefs in NSW, 270 2.5 year-old first cross ewes weighing 79kg sold for $262, or 330c/kg lwt, to a buyer in Wagga Wagga, NSW.

At Delegate in NSW, 315 two year-old Primeline ewes weighing 73kg sold for $210, or 290c/kg lwt, to a buyer in Wagga Wagga, NSW.

Source – AuctionsPlus.