Below The Baa: Winters Rising Rainfall Total Sinks Sheep and Lamb Returns

Off the back of an unprecedented two-year run for the livestock market, sheep and lamb sales in 2022 have been impacted by difficult seasonal conditions and a change to buyer mindset. With the third La Nina underway, it has become clear that buyers are seeking out quality offerings, as opposed to previous purchasing trends, where the intent to ‘quickly restock’ numbers was front of mind. AuctionsPlus listings have remained steady throughout this period, with the most recent September quarter registering a total of 810,472 head online. Prices across the majority of categories eased into late winter, with year-on-year price comparisons for the third quarter of 2022 showing a reduction in the $/head average of 18-25%.

Following on from the inaugural sheep and lamb breed breakdown released in late 2021, AuctionsPlus has provided an update to top ten breeds listed online - Merino, Australian White, Border Leicester/Merino, Composite, Dohne, Dorper, Poll Dorset/Merino, Primeline, White Dorper, White Suffolk/Merino. The breed breakdown highlights key changes in prices and market conditions and provides a robust indication of how breeds are performing.

Merino categories remain the most popular breed on AuctionsPlus, with the first three quarters of 2022 seeing 1,257,934 head listed – accounting for 34% of the sheep and lamb offering. The demand for shedding sheep breeds has seen numbers for both Australian White and Dorper breeds increase year-on-year. With Australian White’s seeing 41,119 head offered - rising 44% on last year, while White Dorper listings sat at 67,936 head – up 6%.

Five selected breeds and categories are briefly detailed below. For the full price series across the ten breeds selected please download the document via the link below.

Merino Ewe Hoggets:

• Merino ewe hoggets in the third quarter of 2022 averaged $224/head, easing 20% on the same period in 2021. However, over the longer-term prices were up 124% from the lowest price record in Q2 2016.

Border Leicester/Merino Ewe Lambs:

• First cross ewe lambs averaged $228/head during the September quarter, back 25% on the same period in 2021, and up 2% on the second quarter of 2022.
• Despite significant year-on-year declines, prices remain historically strong, with the category averaging 75% higher than Q2 2016.

White Dorper SIL Ewes

• Peaking in Q4 2020, White Dorper SIL ewes averaged $254/head for the third quarter of 2022, easing 18% on the same period last year.
• Looking back to the spike in prices experienced in 2020, current White Dorper SIL ewe prices sit 18% above Q3 2019 prices.

Poll Dorset-Merino Mixed Sex Lambs

• Mixed sex lambs averaged $134/head in the third quarter of 2022, easing 18% on the same period in 2021. Peaking at $183/head in Q2 2020, prices are back significantly, as the urgency to restock continues to ease.

Australian White Station Mated Ewes

• Australian White SM ewes recorded a 10% increase in the average price for the September quarter, at $446/head. This also represents a 203% rise in prices since the category was first listed online in Q4 2016.