Originally posted Wed 8 June 2022, Updated Friday 10 June 2022.
Numbers eased this week through AuctionsPlus commercial sheep and lamb sales, with the 50,058 head offered down 27% on the previous week. Results were mixed across the sales, with Merino and First cross categories back on last week, while other categories strengthened. With a 58% clearance at the immediate close of sales on Tuesday, post-sale negotiations in the days following lifted clearance to 74%.
The crossbred lamb category saw a drop in numbers this week, back 63% on last week, with 5,845 head offered. The 47% clearance rate at the immediate closure of the sale, lifted to 85% by late Thursday, as prices remained steady on last week averaging $147/head. From Nimmitabel, NSW, a line of 700 Poll Dorset/Border Leicester cross Merino mixed sex store lambs weighing 42kg lwt returned the top price for the category at $175/head.
Registering the largest offering of the lamb category for the week at 6,417 head Merino wether lambs again took a step back, down $3 at $121/head. Post-sale negotiations lifted the clearance rate from 66% at the immediate close of sale to 74% late Thursday. A line of 800 woolgrower wether lambs weighing 38kg lwt from Merton, Victoria, returned $130/head. Merino ewe lambs registered the biggest rise week-on-week for the lamb category up $32 at $235/head, with the 2,376 head offering achieving a 54% clearance.
Shedding breed lambs averaged $27 dearer, at $156/head with the sparse offering seeing selective buying - achieving a 68% clearance. From Inverell, NSW, a line of 216 White Dorper wether lambs, weighing 39kg lwt returned $156/head.
The breeding ewe market provided mixed results for the week, with a range of clearance rates and price falls across populated lines - with the smaller offerings seeing prices average higher on last week. SIL Merino ewes, averaged $5 higher on last week at $240/head, with the 13,559 head achieving an 85% clearance rate - up from 64% at the immediate close of Tuesdays sales. Selling $61 above reserve was a line of 216 2–3-year-old Merino ewes weighing 55kg lwt from Willaura, Victoria, which returned $236/head.
SIL first cross ewes slipped $52 lower, averaging $280/head for the 6,629 head. The clearance rate for the category was subdued post auction, achieving 40%, with post sale negotiations in the days following lifting this to 52%.
SIL Shedding breed ewes registered a 100% clearance rate for the small offering of 386 head. Topping the category was two even lines of 27 Jun/Jul 21’ drop SIL Australian White ewe lambs from Forbes, NSW, weighing 51kg lwt returning $720/head.
From Lameroo, SA, a line of 2-4-year-old scanned empty Poll Merino ewes weighing 70kg lwt, returned $220/head to a buyer in Mildura, Victoria.
NOTE: Prices as at 5pm, Thursday 9th June 2022