Following a subdued offering of sheep and lambs on AuctionsPlus for the final week of spring, the first week of December has put the bells on many producers to sell new season lambs prior to Christmas. A total of 122,459 head are catalogued across both National sheep and lamb sales – 18% higher than last week’s numbers yet 13% below the same week in 2020.
Given historical records of La Nina placing upward pressure on lamb markets, the summer of 2021-22 is expected to yield a “once in a generation” season, projecting that the lamb market will continue to hold its strong trajectory moving into the new year. Despite recent inclement conditions proving a challenge for the transport and logistics of delivering lambs, supply constraints coupled with the strong lamb market will continue to drive demand, with the outlook set to continue well into the first quarter of 2022.
As numbers in the lamb sale increase by 5% this week, top listing regions for new season lambs include SW Victoria (25,321 head), Kangaroo Island, SA (7,128 head) and the NSW Central West (7,103 head). Of note across lamb sale listings this week includes several vendors who are offering large runs of lambs nominating ‘buy now pay later’ options for successful purchasers- allowing them to capture current market opportunities whilst allowing for flexibility for producers to pay and take delivery over the coming months.
The National Lamb Sale commencing at 1pm EDST has a total of 73,226 head catalogued across 211 lots.
Lot 402: A line of 680 July-Sept 21’ drop Poll Dorset/Merino mixed sex store lambs from Thallon, QLD which weigh 29kg liveweight.
Lot 450: From Jugiong, NSW a line of 500 Jul/Aug ’21 drop Merino store wether lambs which are unshorn and weigh an average of 30.2kg liveweight. The vendor is offering a total of 5000 lambs in the sale across 10 lots.
Lot 524: A line of 520 White Suffolk/Merino Jul-Aug 21’ drop of future breeder ewe lambs from Buangor, VIC which weigh an average of 33.6kg liveweight.
Lot 602: From Kingscote, South Australia a line of 860 White Suffolk/Highlander/Composite mixed sex lambs averaging 37kg liveweight. The vendor is offering another lighter line of 650 lambs averaging 30kg liveweight.
The National Sheep Sale commencing at 2pm EDST has a total of 49,233 head catalogued across 249 lots.
Lot 701: 550 Poll Merino woolgrower wether lambs from Aramac, QLD. The lambs are Mar/Apr 21’ drop and weigh an average of 35kg liveweight.
Lot 721: From Guyra, NSW a line of 195 NSM White Suffolk/Merino ewes aged 18-22 months old which weigh an average of 58kg liveweight.
Lot 817: 110 scanned empty Black Suffolk/Merino ewes from Violet Town, VIC. The ewes are 18 months old and average 68.5kg liveweight. This lot is one of three equal run-out-the-gate lots, with a total of 330 ewes offered from the same vendor.
Lot 914: From Kingston, SA a line of 230 Merino future breeder ewe hoggets which weigh an average of 59kg liveweight and range from 15-17 months of age.
Lot 945: 570 NSM multi-purpose Merino ewes from Perillup, WA. The ewes are 16-17 months old and weigh an average of 35kg liveweight.