Weekly Sheep & Lamb Comments - Week ending Friday 24th May

AuctionsPlus Sheep and Lamb listings dropped 9% this week, after a 42% drop the previous week. The clearance rate also fell, but the Value Over Reserve was strong, with a lift of $5.

The ARLI Indicator, AuctionsPlus' restocker indicator, more than doubled last week's increase of 47c/kg to 103c/kg to hit 667c/kg.

Crossbred Lamb prices fell by an average of $2/head to $124 with a 98% clearance rate.

Composite/Other Breed Lambs lifted an average of $4/head this week in a listing that was 10% larger than the previous week and a 100% clearance rate.

Joined Ewes experienced average head increases of between $8-20/head across all categories, but SM Shedding Breed Ewes dropped $8/head or 51c/kg.

Listings were down across all states except South Australia, with producers from that state putting an additional 2,583 head on the market. SA buyers were also more active, purchasing an additional 1,375 head more than they did the previous week. Queensland and NSW buyers were significantly less active.

Processors snapped up 5% of the offering this week.

Table 1: AuctionsPlus National Weekly Sheep and Lamb Prices
Report: Interactive Market Dashboard

Crossbred Lambs registered a 52% larger offering with 8,094 head, with prices down by $2 on last week to average $124/head for a 98% clearance rate.

From Henty, NSW, a line of 450 Suffolk/Merino mixed sex, Jul/Aug '23 drop, and weighing 46kg lwt returned $159/head, or 343c/kg and will travel to a buyer in Echuca, VIC.

Merino Wether Lambs registered a 39% drop in offering to 4,064 head, with prices back $8/head for a 27% clearance.

From Coonamble, NSW, a line of 305 Merino wethers, Jul/Aug '23 drop, and weighing 42kg lwt returned $97/head, or 232c/kg and will travel to a buyer in Coonamble, NSW.

SIL Merino Ewes registered a 20% smaller offering with 7,585 head, with prices up by $8 on last week to average $110/head for a 44% clearance. 

Note: Prices as at 5pm Thursday, 23rd May 2024.