AuctionsPlus commercial sheep and lamb listings fell 21% to 64,486 head this week, with the lamb, sheep, NSM and ram categories all recording softer listings, while an extra 31% of Joined Ewes were marketed. The smaller offering was met with a three percentage point increase in the clearance rate to 59%. Price Over Reserve fell by $10 to average $4 across all listings.
AuctionsPlus' restocker indicator ARLI recouped the 48c/kg it lost last week and then some to sit at 567c this week. At the same time MLA's Restocker Lamb Indicator, which shows what lambs are being paid for in physical saleyards, fell 23.59c/kg to 516.90.
Crossbred Lambs fell $3 this week with the crossbred lamb indicator shifting to $106/head. Lamb prices fell across some categories with Shedders rising by $22 to average $117/head and Merino Ewe Lambs crept up $2/head. Joined Ewes mostly recorded price reductions, with SIL Merino Ewes holding firm. SIL First X Ewes and SM Shedding Breed Ewes fell $35 to $152 and $37 to $142 respectively.
Listings fell in all states except Victoria. Purchases fell in all states apart from Queensland. Processors purchased 1920 lots and were active across First X Ewe Lambs and Crossbred lamb markets.
Table 1: AuctionsPlus National Weekly Sheep and Lamb Prices
Report: Interactive Market Dashboard
Crossbred Lambs registered a 21% smaller offering in head, with prices increasing falling $3 on last week to average $106/head for a 90% clearance. From Casterton, VIC a line of 118 Dorset/Border Leicester/Merino mixed sex Jun/Jul '23 lambs weighing 35kg lwt returned $106/head, or 300c/kg and will travel to a buyer in Loxton, SA.
The 7,085 Merino wether lambs offered this week was a 65% reduction to the 20,399 offered last week. Prices did not respond favourably to the reduced supply as might have been expected, with a $10/head discount compared to last week and a 74% clearance rate. From Branxholme, VIC a line of 850 Composite wethers Aug/Sep '23 and weighing 32kg lwt returned $96/head, or 296c/kg and will travel to a buyer in Swan hill, VIC.
4052 Merino Ewe Hoggets were offered this week, up 12% from the 3,632 offered last week. Prices rose $18/head in this category to record an average price of $91/head. It didn't help clearance however, which only managed 36%.
Note: Prices as at 5pm Thursday, 7th March 2024
We'd love your feedback on how we can improve the weekly market comments. Let us know what you would find helpful by emailing newsroom@auctionsplus.com.au
