AuctionsPlus commercial sheep and lamb listings fell by 9% this week to 36,026 head. The tighter supply was met with another week of strong clearance rates, averaging 78% for the week, which is a three-percentage point rise from last week. The crossbred lamb indicator couldn’t continue last week’s price rally, reducing 9% to average $138/head, and it was much the same for the AuctionsPlus Restocker Lamb indicator, which fell 28 cents to finish the week at 640c/kg dressed weight.
This week’s offering mainly comprised of lambs and joined ewes, with lambs making up 43% of the total offering, or 15,324 head, and joined ewes making up 41% of the total, or 14,630 head. NSM ewes and sheep made up the balance, with 5,317 head and 755 head, respectively. Demand was strongest for the small number of sheep on offer, with the 755 head resulting in a 97% clearance rate, followed by the NSM ewe lots, which saw an 88% clearance rate. Lamb lines again enjoyed strong demand at an 85% clearance rate.
Prices were stronger at the bottom end of the national price table this week, with green ink scattered throughout the joined ewes and NSM ewe categories. Leading the charge in price rises was joined Merinos, with SM Merino ewes jumping $44 to average $136/head and SIL Merino ewes rising $19 to average $123/head. Merino wethers were also keenly sought, with Merino wether lambs rising $13 to $88/head and Merino wethers rising $41 to $81/head.
Listings fell from all states, besides Queensland, which saw an 867 head rise from last week to total 4,359 head. NSW was the largest lister at 21,048 head, which is a 2,558 head fall from the previous week.
Processers/feedlotters purchased 4.91% of the sold offering this week, with Merino types being particularly sought after.
Table 1: AuctionsPlus National Weekly Sheep and Lamb Prices
Report: Interactive Market Dashboard
Crossbred Lambs registered a smaller offering this week, with the 5,413 head 41% lower than last week. The tighter supply was met with strong demand, with the clearance rate recaching 94%. Prices fell compared to last week, dropping $13 to average $125/head. From Junee, a line of 352 Poll Dorset/Border Leicester/Merino Aug/Oct '23 mixed-sex store lambs weighing 42kg lwt returned $167/head, or 397c/kg and will travel to a buyer in Forbes, NSW.
Merino wether lambs registered a 14% rise in numbers this week, with the 6,228 head resulting in an 81% clearance and an $13 price increase to average $88/head. From Tullamore, NSW a line of 440 Aug/Sep '23 drop Merino wether lambs weighing 43kg lwt returned $110/head, or 257c/kg and will travel to a buyer in West Wyalong, NSW.
SIL Merino ewes saw a smaller offering this week, with 4,412 head offered, falling 22% from last week. The category rose in value by $19 to average $123/head and registered a 53% clearance rate. From Birchip, VIC a line of 284 Merino SIL ewes aged 2 years old, scanned in lamb to White Suffolk rams and weighing 63kg, returned $150/head.
SM Merino ewes saw strong results this week, with the category rising in price by $44 to average $136/head. The offering of 1,647 head was 29% higher than last week, and demand was robust at 77%. From Nyngan, NSW a single vendor offered two lines of 360 SIL Merino ewes which returned $160 and $176/head. The top price was returned for the line of 360 3-year-old SIL ewes which were scanned to White Suffolk rams and resulted in 67% of the total to multiples.
Merino ewe hogget numbers fell by 10% to total 1,344 head, and the offering sold well at a 73% clearance rate. Prices were flat on last week, increasing $2 to average $73/head. From Burra, SA a line of 440 Poll Merino ewes aged 23-24 months old and weighing 46kg returned $65/head, or 141c/kg lwt, and will travel to a buyer in Wagga Wagga, NSW.
Note: Prices as at 5pm Thursday, 13th June 2024.
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