AuctionsPlus sheep and lamb listings observed a decrease this week, down 16%, at 45,371 head. The reduced offering contributed to a dearer trend across several indicative categories, furthered by strong clearance rates. New season lambs are starting to make their way into the market, with 9,731 head offered this week, with all but one lot managing to sell.
Lamb listings were firm this week, with 24,439 head offered, resulting in four-of-the six categories recording a price increase. Crossbred lambs registered the highest offering for the week, at 8,846 head, up almost 3,000 head from last week. The increased supply resulted in the average price falling $4, to $156/head – while overall demand was solid for the larger supply achieving a 95% clearance rate. Merino ewe lambs registered the biggest price increase for the week, up $39 to average $222/head for the 2,362 head offered - with a clearance rate of 82%.
Merino wether lambs were the only other category to record a drop in price, falling $1 to average $142/head, with a clearance rate of 84%. Composite and other breed lambs continued their upward trend, recording a $21 price rise to average $235/head for the 2,395 head offered. Shedding breed lambs also recorded positive sales, averaging $246, lifting $2/head on last week, with a clearance rate of 82%. This category’s top priced lot was a line of 60 Australian White future breeder ewe lambs, selling for $564/head. These ewe lambs were of Tattykeel bloodline, averaged 51.2kg liveweight and were located in Junee, NSW.
The joined ewe offering dropped slightly this week, with 16,854 head listed. Although only three-out-of-seven indicative categories increased in price, the clearance rates remained healthy at 73%. SIL Merino ewes were well supplied with 8,037 head offered to average $240, down $4/head on last week.
SM Merino ewe listings increased this week to 1,471 head - up from 120 head last week. The category saw a $42 price increase, to average $171/head. SIL shedding breed ewes fell $160 this week, to average $374/head. Despite the large price reduction, the category still resulted in a robust clearance rate of 100%, with the top price being returned for a line of 36 Australian White SIL ewes selling for $480/head.
NOTE: Prices as at 5pm, Thursday 15th July 2021