Weekly Sheep & Lamb Comments - Week ending Friday 21st October 2022

Originally published Wednesday 19^th October 2022, updated Friday 21^st October 2022

Widespread rain and flooding continued to impede AuctionsPlus sheep and lamb listings for the second consecutive week, as throughput eased 16% on last week, at 81,107 head offered. Wet paddocks, road closures and forecasts for further flooding rains across Eastern Australia has created a headache for producers and processors alike, as the traditional momentum for spring selling continues to be “bogged”. Clearance rates across both sheep and lamb sales were subdued this week - impacted by the logistical and welfare considerations of moving stock and limited availability of dry paddocks.

The National Lamb Sale accounted for 68% of the total offering this week, with 54,848 head listed. SA accounted for almost half the weekly lamb listings, with 33,509 head catalogued, as NSW recorded a contraction in numbers. Overall market sentiment was softer this week, as only two of the six lamb categories registered price gains on last week.

Crossbred lambs had the largest offering with 27,656 head – a 9% rise on last week. Post-sale negotiations lifted the clearance rate from a subdued 53% at the immediate close of sale to 73% late Thursday, prices eased $2 on last week, to average $139/head. Topping the category this week included a line of 310 Border Leicester/Poll Merino wether lambs weighing 43kg lwt from Naracoorte, SA. The lambs returned $157/head and will travel to a buyer in Mt Gambier, SA.

Merino wether lamb numbers contracted by 33% on last week, with a total offering of 13,164 head. Clearance rates for the category also eased from last week, to reach 59%, with prices back $6 to average $107/head. From Bordertown, SA a line of 540 Merino wether lambs weighing 45kg lwt returned $149/head.

Merino ewe lambs recorded the largest contraction in weekly listings - back 64%, to total 3,152 head. The limited offering sparked increased competition, as prices averaged $37 higher than last week, at $181/head - while clearance rates reached 94%. From Lani Logan, Victoria, a line of 355 Merino ewe lambs weighing 48kg lwt returned $212/head.

Composite/other breed lamb prices rose by $3 from last week, to average $139/head across the offering of 5,254 head. Post-sale negotiations saw the clearance rate lift to 44% late Thursday up from a subdued 15% at the immediate close of sale.

Joined ewe listings were few and far between, with a total of 1,905 head offered. Station mated shedding breed ewes had the largest offering among the joined ewes, with 1,252 head offered - a significant rise on last week. Prices for the category rose by $2, to average $226/head, while clearance rates reached 75%. A highlight for the category included a line of 53 Australian White ewes from Keith, SA, aged 12-15 months old and weighing 65kg lwt - selling to $570/head, $270 above reserve.

Unjoined ewe numbers accounted for 28% of the total offering, with 23,098 head offered. Four of the five categories registered a decline in prices this week, which was underpinned by subdued clearance rates across all categories.

NSM Merino ewe hoggets slipped back $59 from last week, to average $228/head across the 7,288 head offered, with the category selling to a 52% clearance. From Kingston, SA a line of 16-18-month -old Merino hoggets weighing 56.6kg lwt returned $300/head.

NSM Merino ewe listings were back by 68% from last week, with a total of 3,591 head offered. Prices for the category eased back $40 to average $186/head, as clearance rates reached 61% up from 46% at the immediate close of sales. From Narrandera, NSW, a line of 250 Poll Merino ewes aged 3.5 years and weighing 72kg lwt returned $250/head.

NSM first cross ewes averaged $54 lower from last week, at $226/head across the 4,021 head offered, with clearance rates reaching 61% up from 43% and the immediate closure of sales. From Kewell, Victoria, a line of 170 Border Leicester/Merino ewes aged 14-16 months weighing 54kg lwt returned $272/head.

Composite/Other breed ewes registered the only price rise for the unjoined ewe categories – up $2to average $200/head across the 6,870 head offered.

Note: Prices as at 5pm, Thursday 20th October 2022