AuctionsPlus sheep and lamb listings increased for the second consecutive week, up 4% from last week to 57,578 head. The increased offering was matched by strong buyer interest, as the majority of the indicative categories registered either a dearer trend, or very little change on last week. New season lambs continued to increase in number, making up over half of the total lamb listings and achieving a 98% clearance rate.
The overall lamb offering for the week decreased by 5% to 32,998 head – down from the 34,744 head listed last week. First cross ewe lambs registered the biggest increase in prices this week, up $28 to average $262/head, for the 3,783 head offered. Composite/other breed lambs averaged $24 higher this week, to $301/head - achieving a clearance rate of 82% for the 1,679 head offered. The shedding breed lamb offering increased by 75% this week, to 3,068 head – with a 99% clearance rate. However, with the increased numbers, average price for the week fell $43, to $227/head. The top priced lot for the week was a line of 31 Australian White future breeder ewe lambs, averaging 32kg liveweight and selling for $351/head from Goulburn, NSW.
Crossbred listings softened slightly this week at 13,138 head, down from 14,075 head offered last week. While the clearance rate for the category remained strong at 98%, the average price slipped $7 lower, to average $157/head for the week. Merino wether lamb listings sold strongly this week, with an 84% clearance for the 9,457 head offered, to average $160, up $5/head from last week.
Joined ewe supplies increased this week, led by SIL Merino ewes with an offering of 6,946 head. Demand remained high for this category, with an 84% clearance rate achieved, averaging $1 higher, at $259/head. The SIL Composite/other breed ewe offering remained robust, offering 3,401 head for the week - up $14 to average $299/head for the week.
SIL shedding breed ewes sold well again this week, observing a 78% clearance rate for the 1,600 head offered - with the category registering an increase in average price, up $124, to $573/head. The top priced lot in the Tuesday National Sheep sale was for a line of 40 SIL Australian White ewes, selling for $845/head. The ewes averaged 89kg liveweight, were four years old, from Tarcutta, NSW.
NOTE: Prices as at 5pm, Thursday 29th July, 2021