Originally published Wednesday, 22 June 2022, Updated Friday 24 June 2022
AuctionsPlus commercial sheep and lamb listings recorded a slight increase this week, at 63,914 head – up 2%. Keeping with the trend of recent weeks, the immediate close of sales again registered mixed results, with joined ewe offerings back on last week, while crossbred and Merino wether lambs along with NSM ewe categories strengthened.
Crossbred lamb listings continue to strengthen week-on-week, with 10,438 head offered – up 45% on last week. The increased offering registered a subdued clearance rate at 39% - up from 29% at the immediate close of auction, as the category jumped $2 on last week to average $149/head. From Stuart Town, NSW, a line of 380 White Suffolk/Merino mixed sex store lambs weighing 43kg lwt returned $157/head.
Strong post sale demand for Merino mixed sex lambs saw the category achieve a 100% clearance rate for 1,119 head on offer, climbing from 33% at auction end on Tuesday and averaged $124/head.
Both Merino wether and ewe lamb categories posted reduced offerings this week, with 6,782 and 629 head, respectively. Merino wethers registered a subdued 25% clearance, to average $122/head – up $4 on last week. A line of 970 store wether lambs weighing 37kg lwt from Thallon, Queensland, returned $130/head.
First cross ewe lambs registered a jump in listings this week, with 5,893 head offered – up 117%. Reaching a 52% clearance by late Thursday, the category averaged $189/head – back $25. From Dubbo, NSW, a line of 280 Border Leicester/Merino ewe suckers weighing 33kg lwt returned the top price for the category at $226/head.
The breeding ewe market again saw all categories, except one, ease on last week, with clearance rates mixed. Registering the largest offering for the week, SIL Merino ewes, at 11,337 head accounted for 18% of the week’s listings. Averaging $209/head – back $15, post-sale negotiations pushed the clearance rate to 65% late Thursday, up from 43% at the immediate end of auction. From Willaura North, Victoria, two lines of 434, 3–4-year-old ewes, weighing 52kg lwt, SIL to Poll Dorset rams returned $286 and $285/head - $101 and $100 over reserve, respectively.
SIL first cross ewes with 5,541 head offered averaged $288/head – back $38 on last week. With listings up 74% on last week the category was met with selective buying resulting in clearance lifting from 18% at auction, to 38% late Thursday. Registering the top price for the category at $350/head was a line of 91 Border Leicester/Merino 19–21-month-old ewes, weighing 78kg lwt and SIL to Dorset and White Suffolk rams.
SIL Composite/other breed ewes saw the only price rise for the joined ewe categories for the week, with the 4,727 head, averaging $255/head – up $35. From Naracoorte, SA a line of 233 Composite cross Border Leicester/Merino Jun/Jul 21’ drop ewe lambs, weighing 45kg lwt and SIL to White Suffolk rams returned $252/head.
Non station mated shedding breed ewes saw 1,454 head offered for the week, with the category averaging $321/head – up $69 on last week. From Wombat, NSW, two lines of 33 Australian White Oct/Nov 21’ drop ewes weighing 35kg lwt returned $505/head - $205 over reserve.
A small offering of ewes and lambs (mixed) this week, with 676 head offered, achieved a 64% clearance at the immediate closure of sales, with the category averaging $328/head – up $28. A line of 275 4-8-year-old Border Leicester/Poll Merino ewes weighing 60kg lwt with 370 LAF aged 2-11 weeks sired by Dorset rams returned $326/head.