Demand for lambs lifts with supply

Tuesday sheep and lamb sales on the 18^th of January saw a total of 107,871 head offered across the two commercial sales.

The National Lamb Sale had a total of 66,411 head offered across 219 lots this week. Crossbred lambs accounted for 30% of the offering this week which was met with robust demand as the category recorded a 91% clearance. From Wee Waa, NSW a total of 2,460 mixed sex Border Leicester/Merino suckers weighing 33kg liveweight offered across three even lines returned $200/head.

Merino wether lambs saw a large increase in numbers this week with 21,335 head listed and returned a 78% clearance. Much of the offering was listed from North-West and South-West Victoria, with the state listing 12,880 head of wether lambs. Despite the larger offering, robust prices for the category remained firm as the category averaged $139/head.

The National Sheep Sale had a total of 41,460 head catalogued across 217 lots. Overall clearance for the sale reached 58% with buyers seeking out strong framed younger ewes.

The joined ewe categories saw a lift in numbers this week, accounting for 28% of the catalogue. Met with high demand the joined ewe offering returned a 77% clearance. A highlight included a line of 29 Australian White ewes from Wellington, NSW aged 2-2.5 years which are 100% SIL to multiples. The ewes returned $790/head and sold well over the nominated reserve.

A total of 9,750 head of NSM Merino ewes were offered in the sale with liveweight averaging 54kg. The category returned a 65% clearance with an average price of $219/head. The top price was for a line of 216 4-year-old ewes from Bookham, NSW which weighed 64.9kg liveweight and returned $270/head. Another highlight from the sale included two lines of 2-year-old Poll Merino ewes from Balranald, NSW which received a lot of bidding activity, selling $60 over reserve price at $249/head.