Originally published Wednesday 14th December2022, updated Thursday 16th December 2022
AuctionsPlus commercial sheep and lamb numbers for the week totalled 107,023 head – back 2% on last week. The second last sale for the year saw prices rally on last week, while clearance rates remained mixed. Post-sale negotiations helped lift clearance rates, with the biggest rises seen across the lamb categories.
The National Lamb Sale saw a total of 62,291 head offered across 188 lots – accounting for 59% of the weekly offering. Clearance rates reached 59% at the immediate end of auction, rising to 79% late Thursday, the highest clearance rate since early November, while prices across four of the five categories rose week-on-week.
A total of 34,464 Crossbred lambs were offered this week, a 54% rise on last week. The increased listings failed to dampen demand, with the category reaching 78% clearance rate up from 64% at the immediate close of the auction, while prices averaged $127/head – rising $14. From Glenthompson, Victoria, a line of 660 White Suffolk/Border Leicester/Merino mixed sex suckers weighing 47kg lwt, returned $147/head.
Merino wether lamb numbers eased from last week, with 12,600 head. While prices eased $1 on last week to average $81/head, clearance rates improved, reaching 50% at the immediate close of auction, as post-sale negotiations saw this rise to 60% late Thursday – up from 46% last week. From Naracoorte, SA, a line of 265 Poll Merino wether lambs, weighing 38kg lwt returned $116/head.
Merino ewe lambs saw a significant drop in listings for the week, back 76%, with 1,041 head offered. Prices for the category ranged between $114-$162/head, to average $140/head – up $34, with clearance rates reaching 36%. From Wallabadah, NSW, a line of 200 ewe lambs, weighing 37kg lwt returned $162/head.
First cross ewe lambs registered 3,909 head, with the category averaging $186/head – rising $23 on last week. Post-sale negotiations saw clearance rates reach 60% late Thursday, rising from 39% at the immediate close of sale. From Culcairn, NSW, a line of 250 Border Leicester/Merino ewe lambs, weighing 41kg lwt returned $179/head.
Composite/other breed lambs registered a 39% clearance across the 3,819 head offering. Numbers were back 26% on last week, while prices rose by $14, to average $126/head. A line of 540 Composite wether suckers, weighing 38kg lwt from Kingscote, SA returned $134/head.
The National Sheep Sale saw a total of 42,679 head listed across 206 lots. An increased joined ewe offering of 4,947 head was met with strong demand. Clearance rates rallied across all categories, while non station mated ewes again registered subdued clearance rates.
SM Merino ewes registered the largest joined ewe offering for the second week, with 1,861 head rising 48% on last week. Prices ranged from $110-$178 – back $67 on last week, while clearances rates reached 87%. From Winton, Queensland a line of 1,390 Merino ewes aged one-six-years weighing 51kg lwt and joined to Merino Rams returned $110/head.
Shedding breed ewes saw an offering of 935 head. Prices ranged from $170-$337, averaging $250/head – up $41 on last week, while clearance rates reached 80%. Selling for $63 above reserve, at $223/head, was a line of 234 White Dorper ewe lambs, from Ivanhoe, NSW, joined to White Dorper rams weighing 41kg lwt.
Merino ewe hogget numbers eased on last week, with the 8,830 head offering back 32%. Finishing $19 cheaper on last week, averaging $190/head - the category was boosted by post-sale negotiations reaching 51% late Thursday, up from a subdued 38% at the immediate close of sale. From Chowerup, WA, a line of 255 Merino ewe hoggets aged 15-16-months, returned $132/head.
Merino ewe numbers registered 13,070 head - the largest unjoined ewe offering of the week. Both prices and clearance followed a similar pattern to the Merino ewe hogget category, easing $16 to average $155/head, while clearance reached 42%. From The Marra, NSW, two lines of 312 Merino ewes aged 6.5-years-old, weighing 56kg lwt returned $180/head.
A spike in Composite/other breed ewes saw 11,516 head offered, rising 174% on last week. The increased offering failed to dampen demand, with the category reaching a 58% clearance rate. Selling from $70-$220, the category averaged $139/head – easing $2 on last week.
Note: Prices as at 5pm, Thursday 15th December 2022