Weekly Sheep & Lamb Comments - Week ending Friday 4th March 2022

*Originally published Wednesday  2nd March 2022 - Updated Friday 4th February 2022

Following a large listing last week, the first week of Autumn saw sheep and lamb numbers ease back by 22%, with a total offering of 104,101 head. The ongoing wet conditions across much of the eastern states contributed to the decreased offering this week, while buyers again showed some caution as autumn kicked-off.

New season lambs accounted for 58% of the offering, with 60,408 head listed. Mixed results were registered across the six lamb categories, while clearance rates remained subdued across the board despite a steady flow of clearances registered in post-sale negotiations. A notable contraction in offerings from key lambing regions in South Australia and Victoria was observed this week, while the NSW Central West region recorded the largest throughput with 6,047 head of lambs.

Crossbred lambs accounted for 13% of the offering, with 13,617 head offered – slipping back by 10,000 head from last week. The reduced offering contributed to a slight rise in prices this week, selling from $110 - $181/head, to average $156/head – up $2 with the category recording the highest lamb clearance rate for the week at 69%. From Apsley Victoria, a line of 723 Poll Dorset/Merino mixed sex lambs weighing 47kg liveweight topped the category at $181/head.

Merino wether lamb numbers held firm on last week, with a total of 22,441 head - which returned an average of $132/head, back $4. Following the close of the National Lamb sale on Tuesday, clearance rates for the category reached 32%, which lifted to 52% with several successful post sale negotiations by Thursday afternoon.

Both first cross and Merino ewe lamb categories registered lower prices this week – back $10 and $31 on last week, respectively. The Merino ewe lamb offering increased by 145% from last week, as the increased numbers had clearance rates slipping back from 90%, to reach 46% across the 5,341 head offered. First cross Merino ewes averaged $247/head for the week, with a highlight including two lines of 540 Border Leicester/Merino lambs weighing 36kg from Tottenham, NSW, which returned $331/head - fetching $110 over their reserve price.

Composite/other breed lambs accounted for 5% of the offering this week, with 5,350 head. The category registered the largest price gains this week – up $106, to average $279/head. A highlight for the category included a line of Sept/Oct ’21 drop Nudie future breeder ewe lambs weighing 36kg, which returned $452/head.

Joined ewes accounted for 18% of the offering, with numbers back by 35% from last week. SIL Merino ewes were the largest category with 12,296 head on offer - a rise of 1,000 head from last week. Prices for the category sold from $185-384/head, to average $256/head – back $12. Clearance rates for the category held firm on last week, reaching 49% - up from 33% following the immediate conclusion of the Tuesday sheep sale.

Unjoined ewe listings totalled 19,487 head this week, with NSM Merino ewes and hoggets making up the majority of the offering. NSM Merino ewe listings declined by 22% from last week, with 9,264 head offered. Prices for the category averaged $8 lower, at $191/head, with clearance levels rising to 73% - increasing by 30% following the close of the sheep sale on Tuesday. Merino ewe hoggets had 8,686 head listed, with prices averaging $244/head - up $11, with clearance rates remaining subdued at 36%.

Unjoined shedding breed ewes achieved a 100% clearance for the week, to average $622/head. Hailing from Cobar NSW a line of 16-17-month-old NSM Etiwanda Dorper stud ewes, weighing 75kg returned an astounding $1,436/head - selling $600 above their reserve.

NOTE: Prices as at 5pm, Thursday 3^rd March 2022