AuctionsPlus commercial sheep and lamb sales held on Tuesday, 25th January, totalled 88,865 head. Both sales had lower numbers than last week, down 21% combined, while offerings were back 37% on the corresponding week in 2021.
The National lamb sale had a total of 48,003 head listed across 165 lots this week – a 38% week-on-week decline. Ongoing supply chain disruptions increased caution for sellers this week, with reports of many producers holding back stock. Despite the reduced offering, demand and clearance rates across the sale were higher this week, which supported a slight lift in prices across the more populated Merino wether and crossbred lamb categories.
Crossbred and Merino wether lamb offerings remained consistent on last week out of Southwest Victoria, with the region listing 15,319 head in the sale. The crossbred lamb offering accounted for 19% of the catalogue this week. Demand across the listings remained strong, with the category recording a 93% clearance rate post sale, with prices averaging $164/head - up $4 from last week.
Merino wether lambs accounted for 16% of the offering, with clearance rates remaining strong at 85% post-sale, with the category averaging $145/head - $7 up from last week. First cross ewe lamb numbers were limited this week. From Nyngan NSW, a line of 250 July ’21 drop Border Leicester/Merino ewe lambs weighing 46kg liveweight returned $286/head.
Further sale highlights included a line of 120 Australian White future breeder ewe lambs from Gulargambone, NSW, which weighed 39kg liveweight and returned $660/head - $300 above their reserve price, selling to a Victorian buyer.
The National sheep sale had a total of 40,862 head listed across 222 lots. Joined ewe offerings accounted for just shy of a third of the catalogue this week, with 11,643 head listed in the sale. A total of 1,503 user logins were recorded across the course of the sale, with the younger ewe offerings proving to be in high demand.
SIL Merino ewe numbers rose from last week, with a total of 4,296 head offered, with the category returning a 74% clearance at the conclusion of the sale. Facilitated by strong demand from Central West and Riverina NSW buyers, the category averaged $282/head – an increase of $14 from last week.
Shedding breed ewes both joined and unjoined were again met with fierce bidding competition, with 100% clearance across the respective categories, as several offerings sold considerably above reserved price. A highlight included a line of 21 Australian White ewe hoggets SIL with multiples. The Nov ’20 drop hoggets weighed an average of 69.6kg liveweight and returned $1,005/head - clearing the reserve price by $400.