AuctionsPlus sheep and lamb listings jumped by 22% this week, to 55,471 head. The increased offering was supported by strong clearance rates, which contributed to higher prices across most of the indicative categories. New season lambs made their presence known this week, with all but one lot of the 13,322 head selling.
Lamb listings for the week increased by 30%, to 34,744 head - up from the 24,439 head offered last week. This led to a dearer trend for five-of-the-six indicative categories, with first cross ewe lambs being the only category to fall in price – averaging $234/head. Crossbred lambs registered the highest offering again this week, with 14,075 head, as excellent demand resulted in the category achieving a 99% clearance rate and increasing $8, to average $164/head. Composite/other breed lambs saw the largest increase in average price this week, up $42 to $277/head, with a 96% clearance rate recorded for the 3,757 head listed. The top priced lot this week was a run of 360 scanned empty Primeline ewe lambs, selling for $387/head from Cootamundra, NSW.
A large Merino wether lamb offering was presented this week, increasing almost 8,000 head, to total 12,300 head. The greater offering was met with stronger demand, promoting dearer trends for the category, increasing $13 to average $155/head - with a clearance rate of 87%. The Merino ewe lamb offering softened this week, decreasing to 1,738 head. However, demand for the category remained high, leading a $33 increase in prices, to average $255/head, with a 100% clearance rate.
The joined ewe offering slipped again this week, down to 14,506 head. SIL Merino ewes had the largest offering of the joined ewe categories, with 7,153 head listed for the week. A 75% clearance rate was registered, with prices increasing $18, to average $258/head. The SIL composite/other breed ewe listings were also strong this week, obtaining a clearance rate of 88% for the 3,166 head offered - seeing the average price rise $1, to $285/head.
SIL shedding breed ewes saw the largest price increase for the indicative categories, rising $135 for the week, to average $449/head for the 813 head listed. This boost in price was promoted by a line of 51 SIL Australian White ewes, topping the national sheep sale at $576/head. The ewes averaged 57kg liveweight and were sold out of Trundle, NSW.
NOTE: Prices as at 5pm, Thursday 22nd July, 2021
AuctionsPlus has released its EOFY Summary for 2020-21.
You can download the full report by clicking below.