Weekly Sheep & Lamb Comments - 26.03.21

In the wake of the very wet conditions, total lamb and sheep exclusively offered through AuctionsPlus this week contracted 21%, to 85,803 head. With the sharp contraction in supplies, prices were largely higher for all categories, especially assessed joined ewes, with the refreshed seasonal conditions adding further impetus to the rebuilding intentions.

With the 21% drop in overall offerings this week, the supply of SIL Merino ewes slipped back 4%, with the average price for the past week increasing $10, to $265/head, with the 79% clearance rate also well above last weeks tally. The average price for SIL first cross ewes also increased on last week, up $3, to $303/head – with the clearance rate for the week well up on last week at 60%.

For the other main sheep lines, NSM Merino ewes increased $14 on last week, at $215/head, with an 89% clearance rate for the 4,716 head offered. NSM Merino ewe hoggets was one of the few categories to decline for the week, back $28, to average $217/head, with only a 31% clearance rate.

On the lamb front, the sharp contraction in supplies contributed to some renewed upwards momentum into prices, with average clearance rates for all categories exceeding 80%. Crossbred lamb supplies declined 34% on last week, to only 10,473 head, with returns rising $12, to average $176/head – with an 84% clearance rate. Similarly, the supply of Merino wether lambs declined 39% on last week, to 10,543 head, with the average price up $10, to $147/head – at an 88% clearance rate.

Contributing to the very high clearance rate for the lamb categories this week was the very deliberate reserve levels set by online sellers – with many reportedly very keen to lock in sales and have lambs off farm prior to the approaching holiday disrupted Easter weeks.

One of the highlight sales for the week was the transaction of 30 Australian White future breeder ewe lambs, out of Oberon NSW, at $563/head – the second highest lamb price on record for AuctionPlus. The August 2020 drop lambs, with Tattykeel bloodlines, averaged 43.2kg liveweight, giving the equivalent of 2,365.6c/kg dressed.

NOTE: Prices are as at 5pm Thursday, 25th March 2021.

For more categories, please go to:
National AuctionsPlus Store Report - Sheep and Lamb
Sheep Averages 23/03/2021

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