Weekly Sheep & Lamb Comments - Week ending Friday 16th June

AuctionsPlus commercial sheep and lamb listings slipped further this week, with the 39,650 head down 11% on last week. Activity during the auction was quite sporadic, with competition limited, as 27% of the catalogue sold at auction. Clearance jumped to 50% by 5pm Thursday through post-sale negotiations. Value over reserve increased $7 to average $16, while prices were generally lower across the board.

First cross ewes received plenty of attention this week, with the 1,911 head offered across a number of categories reaching a 74% clearance. First cross ewe lambs returned an 82% clearance for the 1,150 head offered and prices were neatly between $105 - $112 to average $110/head, rising $30.

Table 1: AuctionsPlus National Weekly Sheep and Lamb Prices
Link 2: National Lamb Sale Results
Link 3: Tuesday National Sheep Sale Results
Report: Interactive Market Dashboard

Crossbred lambs continued their falling trend, decreasing for the third week in a row to average $93, down $2. The 3,808 head listed, which was back 50% from last week was met with a 66% clearance rate. Per kilogram prices increased 12c to average 251c/kg lwt. From Bessiebelle, Victoria a line of 590 Sep/Oct ’22 drop White Suffolk/Composite mixed sex store lambs weighing 35kg returned $104, clearing reserve by $12.

Merino wether lambs fell $9 this week to average $50/head for the 3,673 head offered. Clearance was subdued, as it was across the board for all Merino categories, with 47% of the category finding a buyer. From Molong, NSW a line of 330 May ’22 drop Gullengamble blood lambs weighing 40kg lwt returned the top price of $62/head.

SIL Merino ewe supply increased by 34% this week to see 8,732 head offered and the larger offering was met with stronger buyer confidence, with clearance reaching 60% and prices rising $12 to average $120/head. From Ilfracombe, Western Queensland a line of 540 SIL 2-year-old Merino ewes weighing 60kg lwt and in lamb to Poll Boonoke rams passed reserve by $22 to return $107/head.

First cross ewes saw one line offered and sold, with the 145 NSM Border Leicester/Merino hoggets from Numurkah, Victoria selling for $92/head. These ewes are 18-19 months of age, 40kg lwt and will travel to a buyer from Northern Victoria.

Note: Prices as at 5pm Thursday, 16th June 2023

Table 1: AuctionsPlus National Weekly Sheep and Lamb Prices

AuctionsPlus Interactive Sheep Market Report