AuctionsPlus weekly commercial sheep and lamb sales registered an 11% rise on last week, to total 34,935 head. Despite a seasonally small offering, market confidence increased with demand rising across a majority of categories. The National lamb sale had a total offering of 19,614 head while there was 15,226 head in the National sheep sale. Prices across all five lamb categories rose on last week, with clearance rates reflecting robust demand and slowly growing confidence in the market. Joined ewe categories also performed well this week, with most categories recording price rises on last week - however clearance rates were mixed across the categories.
Crossbred lambs had a total of 6,351 head offered across the category which averaged $6 higher than last week at $132/head. Clearance rates reached 94% this week, much higher than the 69% recorded last week - showing promising signs for the lamb market on the approach to spring. From Brewarrina, NSW a line of Merino/Border Leicester mixed sex lambs weighing 59kg lwt returned $175/head to a buyer in Grenfell, NSW.
Merino wether lambs were the largest lamb category for the week, with 7,834 head. Prices averaged $101/head – up $7 from last week, with clearance rates reaching 96%- up from 74% following Tuesdays’ sale. A line of wethers from Booligal, NSW, weighing 45kg lwt returned $137/head and will travel to a buyer in Loxton, South Australia.
Merino ewe lambs saw numbers triple on last week, albeit still seasonally small, to reach 1,420 head. Prices for the category averaged $200/head - up $21 on last week, with the category registering an impressive 100% clearance. From Thallon, Queensland, a line of 900 Oct/Nov ’21 drop Merino ewe lambs weighing 32kg lwt returned $171/head to a buyer in Longreach, Queensland.
First cross ewe lambs sold to stronger demand this week, with the 2,406 head reaching a 72% clearance - up from 34% last week. Prices for the category averaged $214/head - rising $45. A highlight included a line of Aug/Sep ’21 drop Merino/Border Leicester lambs weighing 53kg lwt from Tottenham, NSW which returned $319/head.
Joined ewe listings accounted for 20% of the total offering this week. SIL Shedding breed ewes were the largest category with 2,400 head, which sold to a 78% clearance. Prices rose $85 on last week to average $374/head. From Cunnamulla, Queensland, a line of Aug/Sept ’21 drop SIL Australian White ewes weighing 64kg lwt returned $702/head - $200 above their reserve price.
SIL Merino ewes saw demand slip from last weeks’ 100% clearance, to register 50% clearance. Prices however rose $38 higher to average $211/head across the 1,948 head offered.
Unjoined ewes accounted for 18% of the offering, with 6,307 head. Prices for three of the five categories were back on last week, however overall demand was higher.
Merino ewe hoggets registered a $20 rise on last week, to average $226/head across the offering of 1,674 head. Clearance rates reached 95%- up from Tuesdays’ 61% - sitting considerably higher than last weeks’ 45%. From Hay in the NSW Riverina a line of 217 15-16-month-old NSM Poll Merino ewes weighing 56kg lwt returned $282/head.
Unjoined Merino ewes averaged $141/head this week - up $39 from last week across the 1,192 head, with clearance rates also improving on last week to reach 45%.
Shedding breed ewes averaged $217/head - back $40 from last week. Prices ranged between $163-$270/head with a clearance rate of 71%- boosted from 39% on Tuesday by post sale negotiations across the 2,225 head.