These joined first cross ewes at Camden NSW sold for $252 on AuctionsPlus last week.

ONLINE sheep and lamb offerings remained strong last week, with AuctionsPlus cataloguing 119,785 head, 1708 more than the previous week.

AuctionsPlus’ Michael Corcoran said demand was high, with a clearance rate across the total yarding of 75 percent.

Southdown ewes sold to $450, joined first cross ewes sold to $252, young first cross and composite ewes made to $240, Merino ewe hoggets sold to $228.50 and Merino wethers reached $127.

Online offerings increased in the south, but fell or were static in the north and west of the country. Victoria’s listings were helped by three stand-alone sale, with producers offering 39,348 sheep and lambs, 10,036 more than last week. South Australian agents listed 12,112 sheep and lambs, 343 more, and the Tasmanian sale offered 2901, up 397.

In New South Wales, 44,502 sheep and lambs were offered, down 7156, Queensland producers listed 3450 for sale, a fall of 1586 and Western Australian agents offered 7695 head.

Merino ewe hoggets to $228.50

Merino ewe lambs and hoggets ranged from $80 to $228.5, to average $167. Young breeders were in tight supply, selling from $174 to $196 and averaging $184. Proven breeders sold from $76.50 to $215, to average $147.

Mr Corcoran said Merino wether lambs were highly sought after last week. Lambs sold from $72 to $127 and averaged $101. A line of 13-14 month-old hoggets weighing 47kg, at Cooma in NSW, sold for $126.

First cross ewes to $252

First cross ewe lambs and hoggets sold from $150 to $240, averaging $184. Top price went to a line of 53kg lambs from Parish Rural at Tintinara, SA. A line of 530 3-3.5 year-old station mated first cross ewes at Camden in NSW sold for $252.

Crossbred ewe lambs sold from $120 up to $219 for a line of composites weighing 61kg at Millicent, SA. Ewe hoggets sold from $135 to $254, to average $201. At Yass in NSW, 320 1.5 year-old White Suffolk ewes with 315 lambs sold for $254. Young breeders sold from $134.5 to $291, averaging $180. Proven breeders sold from $120 to $190, to average $148.

In the A.M. & L. McGrath flock dispersal at Strathdownie in Victoria, a line of 13 unjoined 2-2.5 year-old Southdown ewes sold for $450. In the Cashmore Oaklea Ewe Sale last Tuesday, June/July drop maternal composite ewe lambs from Millicent in South Australia sold to $219. A line of 1-1.5 year-old unjoined maternal composite ewes at Kongorong in SA sold for $240. An offering of 42 1.5-4.5 year-old Poll Dorset ewes with 14 lambs sold for $291 at Parkes in NSW.

Store lambs in demand

Mr Corcoran said in Western Australia, Elders Midland agents Dean Hubbard and David Halleen achieved a 100pc clearance rate of 5360 station-mated White Dorper ewes, at $125-$140, in the Wemyss Estates flock dispersal.

Landmark Benalla and Euroa agents David Welsh and Colin Broughton conducted their 13th Annual North East Victorian Lamb, Backgrounder and Finisher Sale, achieving a 100pc clearance rate. The 15,416 head were sold for multiple vendors to buyers in Victoria, NSW and SA. The sale achieved an average price of $116 for lambs and suckers.

The top-priced store lambs by c/kg sold online last week for 420c/kg or $113 for a line of Border Leicester/Merino mixed sex suckers weighing 27kg at Binalong, NSW. The top price by $/head was $141.50, or 340c/kg, for a line of Poll Dorset cross mixed sex lambs weighing 42kg at Wellington, NSW.

Source: AuctionsPlus.