This week saw the largest commercial sheep and lamb offering by AuctionsPlus on record. A total of 164,375 head were listed online - 22% above last weeks’ offering and 166% above the corresponding week in 2020.
NSW offered 38% of the total catalogue, while South Australia registered a large surge in numbers listed online, offering 59,173 head and accounting for 36% of the catalogue. The majority of the South Australian offering comprised of crossbred and Merino ewe lambs, with 19,426 and 10,452 head offered, respectively. The large influx of South Australian lambs stems from reports of the spring flush running 4-6 weeks behind, which is delaying weight gain and the arrival of heavier new season lambs on the market.
Mixed results were seen across the six lamb categories this week, as the new season lamb offering totalled 102,704 head. The two largest categories, crossbred lambs and Merino wether lambs accounted for 25% and 18% of the market, with clearance levels robust, as prices increased for the third consecutive week. Merino wether lambs saw clearance rates drop from last week, to 82%, however demand continued to underpin strong prices, as the category averaged $147 - up $4/head from last week.
First cross ewe lambs totalled 13,172 head this week – up 48% from last week. Increased numbers saw clearance levels reduce slightly to 80%, while the average price was back $35 to $274/head. The top price for the category returned $366/head and consisted of 115 Apr/May ’21 drop lambs weighing 48.4kg liveweight from Central West NSW.
Merino ewe lamb numbers registered an astounding jump from last week - up 443%, as South Australian lambs hit the market, accounting for 90% of the category. Despite the category easing considerably in $/head terms, to average $163/head, c/kg prices held firm at 596c/kg - 9c up from last week, indicative of the much lighter SA offering of lambs across the category. Clearance levels increased to 92% for the category, with most of the South Australian offering purchased by interstate buyers - 68% travelling into key NSW restocking regions including the Central West and Northern Tablelands, with 28% headed to Victoria.
Joined ewes remained a small portion of the total offering this week, accounting for just 3% of online listings. SIL Merino ewes totalled 1,621 head this week and averaged $265/head – back $34 with a stronger weekly clearance of 89%.
NSM Merino ewe hoggets accounted for 13% of the offering this week, with numbers increasing by 54% from last week. While the clearance for the category remained low at 43%, the category averaged dearer this week at $290/head – up $16/head, indicating strong competition for selected quality lines. NSM Merino ewes also totalled 13% of the offering, with listings increasing by 30% from last week. Quality lines were hotly contested, as the category averaged $225/head – up $46 from last week.
NOTE: Prices as at 5pm, Thursday 14th October, 2021