Tuesday sheep listings rose this week, with the 87,631 head increasing 34% on last week. Higher listings were represented across all categories, with lamb categories jumping 39% from last week. The higher supply was met with slightly weaker demand, demonstrated by clearance falling 8 percentage points on last week to 40%, although post sale negotiations lifted clearance 15%, up from 25% at auction end Tuesday. Value over reserve fell from Tuesday to Thursday, as post sale transactions selling for less than reserve dragged it down from $14 at auction end to $6 by late Thursday.
Table 1: AuctionsPlus National Weekly Sheep and Lamb Prices
Link 2: National Lamb Sale Results
Link 3: Tuesday National Sheep Sale
Link 4: Results by Region
Crossbred lambs picked up this week to 16,315 head, increasing 47% while the average price increased $4, at $119/head. Clearance rose to 46%, from 36% on Tuesday afternoon. From Mansfield, Victoria, a line of 300 Jun/Aug 22’ drop White Suffolk/Border Leicester/Merino mixed sex store lambs weighing 44kg lwt returned the top price of $146, exceeding the reserve price by $26.Merino wether lambs were also well represented this week at 6,271 head which is steady on last week and recorded a 67% clearance, rising 15% from 42% at auction end. Price for the category ranged from $49 to $119, and averaged $81 – increasing by $8 on last week.
SIL Merino ewe listings rose to 13,571 head and averaged $142/head - down $16 from last week and reached a final clearance of 32%, up from 19%. From Lucindale, South Australia, a line of 435 Poll Merino ewes rising three years of age, weighing 51kg lwt returned $150/head and will travel to a buyer from Northern Victoria.
Table 1: AuctionsPlus National Weekly Sheep and Lamb Prices