Originally Posted Wednesday 25th May 2022, Updated Friday 27th May 2022.
Following a reduced offering last week, sheep and lamb numbers for the regular Tuesday commercial sales rose by 15%, with 52,228 head listed across the two sales. Top listing regions for the week consisted of the NSW Central West (10,795 head), NSW Riverina (9,143 head) and SW Victoria (8,331 head). On the purchasing side, the NSW Riverina came out on top to secure 5,678 head, consisting mainly of first cross and Merino ewe and wether lambs.
Lamb listings accounted for 28% of the offering this week, with four of the five categories averaging firm, or higher on last week - with many categories making back the losses from the previous week.
The crossbred lamb category saw a reduced offering on last week with 4,718 head listed, with buyers seeking quality and heavier weighted lambs. Prices averaged $141/head, back $15, with the category reaching a top of $183/head for a line of White Suffolk/Merino lambs weighing 48kg lwt from Bookham, NSW. Selective buying had clearance rates lower week-on-week, reaching 46% following the immediate closure of the lamb sale on Tuesday - increasing to 68% in the days following the sale.
First cross ewe lamb prices rose $24 on last week to average $224/head. Across the 1,287 head offered clearance rates reached 64% immediately post sale, which was boosted to 81% in the subsequent 48 hours. Topping the category this week was a line of Border Leicester/Merino future breeder ewe lambs aged 10-11-months old weighing 55kg lwt, which returned $280/head.
A total of 25,791 head of joined ewes were listed online this week, accounting for 48% of the total weekly offering. Prices across Merino and Composite/other breed ewe categories registered a drop in prices this week, however clearance rates remained robust for SIL and SM Merino ewes, as well as SM Composite ewes.
SIL Merino ewes were the largest category this week, with 8,148 head listed. Prices averaged $14 back from last week, at $220/head. Clearance rates rose from 65% to 86%, as post sale negotiations had vendor and buyer price points adjusting. A highlight for the category included a line of 307 3-4-year-old ewes from Deniliquin, NSW, which averaged 73kg and returned $330/head - making $90 above reserve to a buyer from Junee, NSW.
SIL First cross ewes also had a large proportion of the weekly offering, with 6,911 head - accounting for 13% of the total catalogue. Prices rose $31 on last week, to average $334/head, however clearance rates were subdued at 51%. SIL Shedding breed ewes followed a similar trajectory this week, rising $66 on last week to average $408/head - with clearance rates reaching 69%.
SIL Composite/other breed ewes accounted for 12% of the catalogue with 6,263 head averaging $246/head, which returned an initial clearance of 21%, as cautious buying remained. Post-sale negotiations saw more than half the sales for the category settled post auction, as clearance rates rose to 54% following the sale.
Unjoined ewe offerings remained limited this week, accounting for 12% of the total offering, with clearance rates reflective of cautious buying despite further sales post auction. NSM Merino ewes were the only exception, with the small offering of 984 head returning a 100% clearance as prices eased back $38, to average $120/head.
Unjoined shedding breed ewes eased $38 on last week, to average $228/head across the 1,694 head offered. Composite/other breed ewes were the largest unjoined category for the week, with 2,586 head, which sold to a 57% clearance. Prices for the category averaged $16 stronger than last week, to average $191/head. A highlight for the category included a line of 617 Border Leicester future breeder ewe lambs from Dubbo, NSW, aged 12 months and weighing 43kg lwt which returned $242/head.
NOTE: Prices as at 5pm, Thursday 26th May 2022