This week’s AuctionsPlus lamb and sheep sales, to be held on Tuesday afternoon, is again expected to see very strong buyer interest – with a heavy focus on the increasing number of new season lambs entering the market. At the final completion of lots on Monday afternoon, there was 34,116 head listed for sale in the National Lamb sale, with a further 21,576 head listed in the National Sheep sale.
New season lambs made up almost 60% of total lamb offerings last week, at an 85% clearance rate. Given the wet conditions across many key lamb producing regions, the balance between selling for the current prices, or holding for future growth and weight is always at play throughout the market at this time of year. While the overall sentiment and trend between sell early, or hold, will not be clearer for several weeks, it is already evident that demand is extremely strong from the buyer side.
For the National Lamb Sale, commencing at 1pm (EST) Tuesday 10th August, there are 118 lots being offered. Largely dominated by NSW lots this week, there is also some large lines out of Queensland, along with steady numbers from Victoria and SA. Lines to watch include:
Lot 803: 700 Merino/Dohne wether lambs out of Isisford, Western Queensland. According to the assessor comment “these wether lambs averaged 25.4kg live at assessment, after being yard weaned two days prior. The lambs are 3 to 4.5 months old with a good start, but season starting to dry off.
Lot 831: 400 mixed sex suckers, 100% white Suffolk/Merino, out of Nyngan in Central NSW. April – May drop, the 400 lambs averaged 31.5kg live, ranging from 16-45kg.
Lot 871: 350 mixed sex suckers, 100% Poll Dorset/Poll Merino, from Yass, NSW. Ranging in age between 14 April – 19 May, the 350 range in weight from 27-46kg, averaging 35kg.
Lot 899: 450 mixed sex suckers, 100% Poll Dorset/Border Leicester/Merino, out of Euroa, northern Victoria. Dropped between 11 April and 18 May 2021, the 450 head averaged 30kg liveweight, with a range 23--40kg/head.
Lot 916: 510 wether lambs, 100% Merino, from the Yarramba Pastoral Company, at Mingary in the Eastern Pastoral region of South Australia. May – June 2021 drop, the lambs ranged between 24-47kg, averaging 31.2kg liveweight.
Similarly, for the National Sheep Sale, commencing at 2pm (EST), Tuesday 10th August demand is expected to remain strong for the quality breeding lines. There are 131 lots offered totaling 21,576 head, with NSW offering the largest portion at 15,350 head, followed by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia. Lines to watch include:
Lot 103: 640 Merino ewe lambs from Tambo, Western Queensland. Averaging 34.4kg liveweight and 9 – 10 months of age.
Lot 136: 537 station mated White Dorper ewe lambs from Ivanhoe, Western NSW. Averaging 38.6kg liveweight and 8 – 9 months of age.
Lot 141 – 147: From Nyngan, Central Western NSW, “DJJ Part” has 492 SIL White Dorper/Samm cross, Dorper, White Dorper and Composite ewes split across seven different lots.
Lot 199: 240 SIL Border Leicester/Merino first cross ewes from Ardlethan, Riverina NSW, averaging 74.6kg liveweight and ranging from 3 – 6 years in age.
Lot 219 – 220: From Winchelsea, S.W. Victoria, “Murdeduke Agriculture” has two lines of 250 SIL Composite ewe lambs. Averaging 52.1kg liveweight and Aug – Sep 20’ drop.
Lot 225: 175 Poll Merino ewes from Meningie, Upper SE, S.A. Ranging in age between 3 – 7 years and averaging 57.2kg liveweight.