AuctionsPlus sheep and lamb numbers totalled 100,259 head this week – back 22% from last week and 58% lower than the same week in 2020, as the very wet November continues to impact logistics and finish. Water filled paddocks and flooding across parts of NSW facilitated a large drop in the offering this week, with the state listing just over 22,000 head of sheep and lambs – back 42,000 from last week. Demand for lambs and several sheep categories remained strong this week, with the top purchasing regions including Southwest Victoria (19,777 head), Central West NSW (12,815 head) and the NSW Riverina (8,061 head).
A total of 70,750 head of new season lambs were offered this week - an increase of 9% from last week. Victoria and South Australia accounted for a majority of lamb listings this week. Demand remained firm for lambs, with five of the six lamb categories averaging dearer than last week.
Crossbred lambs accounted for 34% of the catalogue this week, with 33,943 head listed. Victoria offered the vast majority of crossbred lambs this week, with 24,956 head listed. Prices for the category ranged from $125-$246/head, to average $162/head – up $4 with an 89% clearance. Two indicative lines consisting of 780 head of White Suffolk/Border Leicester/Merino mixed sex suckers weighing 41.2kg from Casterton Victoria, returned $181/head and will travel to a buyer in Dirranbandi, Queensland – approximately a 1,500km journey north.
Merino wether lambs totalled 12% of the offering. Prices averaged $142/head - up $8 from last week, with clearance rates reaching 90%. Merino ewe lambs continued to rise in value and demand this week, as the category averaged $173/head - $20 up from last week with a 72% clearance. South Australia offered a majority of Merino ewe lambs this week, with 72% of sold SA lines going to NSW buyers.
First cross ewe lambs accounted for 12% of the catalogue, with 11,757 head listed. The category returned a $244/head average - up $39 from last week with a 58% clearance.
The offering of Composite/other breed lamb numbers held firm on last week, with 8,061 head offered - 8% of the total catalogue. Despite good demand within the category returning the highest clearance rate across the lamb categories for the week, at 94%, it also registered an easing in prices as the category averaged $164/head – back $13.
Joined ewes again remained very limited in the sheep sale this week, with a total of 1,692 head offered across the five categories.
Non Station Mated ewes improved across three of the four categories listed this week, following prices declining across all categories last week. Merino ewe hogget listings halved this week and were subsequently met with steady demand, as clearance rates rose to 72%. Prices for the category ranged between $171-$327/head, to average $260/head - up $21. NSM Merino ewes accounted for 11% of the catalogue, with 11,292 head offered, as the category averaged $236/head - up $24 with 73% of lines selling.
NOTE: Prices as at 5pm, Thursday 3rd December, 2021