Originally published Wednesday 18th January 2023 and updated Friday 20th January 2023
AuctionsPlus sheep and lamb listings roared back to life this week, with 145,283 head - the largest ever January weekly listing. Up 51% on last week, the offering was also a 28% increase on the corresponding week in 2022. The sharp rise in listings follows long-awaited summer conditions in recent weeks, as producers continue to turn off lambs following the raft of disruptions in the final months of 2022.
Lambs again dominated this week’s listings, totalling 98,924 head - offered across 267 lots. The increased offering was met with easing prices, while clearance rates rose significantly in the hours following the close of the sale, highlighting the continued impact post-sale negotiations will have on securing sales in the 48 hours following Tuesday’s sales.
Crossbred lambs continue to dominate listings, with a total of 58,482 head - accounting for 62% of the total lamb offering. Selling to an average $111/head, prices eased $12 on last week, while clearance reached 51% late Thursday- up from 28% at the immediate conclusion of the auction. From Caloote, SA, a line of 113 White Suffolk/Poll Merino, mixed sex store lambs, Apr/Jul 22’ drop, weighing 41kg lwt returned $130/head.
Merino wether lambs registered the highest clearance across the lamb categories, reaching an 84% clearance for the 13,839 head offered. Prices lifted $8 on last week to average $81/head. Three lines of 460 May/Jun 22’ drop store wether lambs, from Maldon, Victoria, weighing 40kg lwt returned $115 and $114, respectively.
Shedding breed lambs saw listings more than double on last week, with 3,384 head. Selling from $103 - $132, to average $123/head, the category saw prices ease $12 on last week, reaching a 36% clearance. Topping the category was a line of 580 Australian White store wether lambs from Mendooran, NSW. Weighing 40kg lwt, the Jul/Aug 22’ drop lambs returned $132/head.
Composite/other breed lambs also experienced a significant spike in listings, with the 10,028 head offered reaching a 75% clearance late Thursday - up from a 29% clearance at the immediate close of Tuesdays sale. The offering averaged $100/head – easing $5 on last week. From Holbrook, NSW, a line of 307 Jul/Sep 22’ drop Primeline store wether lambs, weighing 38kg lwt returned $127/head.
The Tuesday National Sheep sale saw a total of 46,359 head offered, with Non-Station Mated (NSM) ewes accounting for 68% of the sale. The smaller grown sheep offering helped lift clearance on last week, while prices across joined ewes increased and non-station mated offerings registered a slight easing.
SM first cross ewes sold to a 76% clearance across the 3,196 head offered, with prices averaging $219/head. A highlight across the category was the run of ewes offered from Raywood Victoria, seeing a single vendor account for 39% of the offering. Topping this offering at $264/head was a line of 209 Border Leicester/Merino ewes, aged 2.5 years, SM to White Suffolk rams weighing 87kg lwt.
SM shedding breed ewes registered the largest joined ewe offering this week, with 3,782 head. Selling from $150 to $223, the category averaged $210/head – up $92, while clearance reached 48%. From Wentworth, NSW, a line of 450 White Dorper ewe lambs aged 4-10 months, weighing 45kg lwt and continuously joined to White Dorper rams returned $223/head.
NSM Merino ewe hoggets averaged $167/head – rising $15 across the 6,983 head offered, while clearance reached 63% late Thursday up from 53% at the immediate closure of sale. A large offering from Moree, NSW, saw 780 Merino ewe hoggets aged 1.4-1.5 years, weighing 47kg lwt, return $130/head.
NSM Merino ewes registered a total offering of 8,730 head. The large offering of unjoined ewes saw prices range between $84 - $228/head, to average $145/head – up $21 on last week, while clearance rates reached 64%- up from 41% at the immediate close of sale. From Keilira, SA, a line of 315 Poll Merino ewes aged 2.4-2.5 years, weighing 55kg lwt, returned $151/head.
Note: Prices as at 5pm Thursday, 20th January 2023
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