AuctionsPlus’ largest sheep and lamb offerings so far in 2021 is scheduled for Tuesday 12th October, with over 158,000 head of sheep and lambs on offer – largely assisted by a surge in numbers out of South Australia. With this week only falling 10 head short of the single largest sale day on record for AuctionsPlus, the regular Tuesday sheep sale has been forced to be split in two, with the National Sheep Sale 1 (QLD & NSW) commencing at 2pm (EDST), and the National Sheep Sale 2 (VIC, SA & WA) commencing at 3pm (EDST). The regular National Lamb sale, with over 290 lots will commence at its regular time of 1pm (EDST).
As offerings of lines with larger numbers continued out of the western regions this week, there was an unexpected surge in SA offerings – making up over one-third of the 290 lamb lots on offer this week. If purchasing intentions mirror last week’s sales results, many of these lambs are again expected to go into the south-eastern quadrant of NSW. Given the recent rainfall and mild conditions, demand for new season lambs is continuing to simmer, with reports continually suggesting that many producers are awaiting the expected price decline before “jumping in”.
Figure 1: Liveweight range across lamb categories listed in the AuctionsPlus National Lamb sale on October 12 2021
Figure 1 illustrates the liveweight range across this weeks' lamb sale offering. Merino wethers register the broadest weight range, with most of the listings weighing between 30-40kg liveweight. First cross ewe lambs have a broad weight range, with most listings sitting between 32-42kg liveweight. The mixed sex crossbred lamb offering has a tighter average weight range between 31-38kg liveweight. Merino ewe lambs have the overall lightest weight range, with most of the listing weighing between 24-31kg liveweight.
On the sheep front, the split sales this week will be an interesting test of clearance rates, after last week’s somewhat patchy results. While Merino ewe hoggets and NSM Merino ewes registered lower prices and subdued clearance rates last week, with prices back $15 and $49/head, respectively, online bids and enquiries were very strong. A rebound in the numbers of joined ewes offered this week will again test the strength of the rebuilding demand, along with the depth of buyers’ pockets.
Lot 100: 1,400 Merino wether lambs from Barcaldine, Western Queensland. The lambs are April/May 2021 drop and weigh an average of 33.8kg liveweight. The wethers consist of Egelabra and Terrick bloodlines, with a flock average of 19.5 microns.
Lot 176: A total of 230 Border Leicester/Merino future breeder ewe lambs from Cowra, Central West NSW, which will be offered across two even lines of 115 head. The freshly shorn ewes are April/May 2021 drop and weigh 48.4kg liveweight.
Lot 143: 520 Merino future breeder ewe lambs from Trangie, NSW. The ewes are May/June ’21 drop, are unshorn and average 32.7kg liveweight.
Lot 238: 700 White Suffolk/Merino mixed sex store lambs from Mount Emu, Victoria. The lambs are May 2021 drop and weigh 29.3kg liveweight.
Lot 277: A total of 1,860 head of mixed sex White Suffolk/Border Leicester/Merino lambs from Millicent, South Australia. The May/Jun ’21 drop lambs have a 1-2” wool and weigh an average of 28.8kg liveweight.
Lot 390: 290 Merino store wether lambs from Ardath, Western Australia. Lambs are May/July 2021 drop with 1-2” wool and weigh 39.5kg liveweight.
Tuesday National Sheep Sale (QLD & NSW)
Lot 401: 335 Station mated Poll Dorset/Dohne ewes from Tambo, Western Queensland, which average 50.3kg liveweight. The ewes are 9-14 months old and have been joined to Poll Dorset Rams.
Lot 439: Two lots of 255 SIL Merino ewes joined to White Suffolk rams from Collie, Central West NSW. The May shorn ewes weigh an average of 44.6kg liveweight and are Sep/Oct ’17 drop with Merryville bloodlines.
Lot 409: 50 Station mated Ultra-white ewes aged 10-11 months from ‘Willunga Pastoral Company’ in Warialda, NSW. The ewes weigh an average of 58.8kg liveweight and are joined to Doonkarmi Australian White Rams. A total of 356 ewes are offered across 7 lots in the sale.
Tuesday National Sheep Sale 2: (VIC, SA & WA)
Lot 637: 177 2-4-year-old composite ewes with 220 lambs at foot aged between 8-12 weeks from Cooriemungle, Victoria. Ewes are of Primeline & Highlander blood and weigh an average of 62kg liveweight.
Lot 698: A total of 400 Merino future breeder ewe hoggets offered across two lots from Padthaway, South Australia. The ewes are 13-15 months old, September shorn and average 49kg liveweight.
Lot 753: 306 2-year-old Merino ewes from Ravensthorpe, Western Australia. The ewes are June shorn with 21-micron wool and weigh an average of 77.1kg liveweight.