Originally posted Wednesday 27th July, Updated Friday 29th July
AuctionsPlus sheep and lamb sales recorded a total of 46,355 head listed online for the week, a 4.6% rise from last week. Clearance rates following the immediate closure of the auction were again subdued, with the National Lamb Sale registering a 46% clearance while the National Sheep Sale closed with a clearance of 27%. Post-sale negotiations saw clearance rates rise slightly in the 48 hours following the Tuesday commercial sales, with the lamb sale reaching a 51% clearance and the sheep sale increasing to 38%.
Across the lamb sale the two largest categories, crossbred and Merino wether lambs, both registered price increases on last week. Accounting for 24% of the catalogue, crossbred lambs averaged $134/head, with the category returning a 60% clearance. From Yumali, South Australia, a line of Apr/May drop White Suffolk/Poll Merino mixed sex lambs weighing 36kg lwt returned $152/head.
Merino wether lambs accounted for 12% of listings in the sale, with the 5,365 head selling to an average of $118/head and a 51% clearance. A large offering of 1,500 wether lambs from Gulargambone, NSW offered across four even lines consisted of Sep/Oct ’21 drop lambs weighing 42kg lwt - which returned $132/head and will travel north to St George, Queensland.
Merino ewe lambs had a total of 1,873 head listed in the category, which averaged $136/head – up $6 from last week at a clearance of 79%. First cross ewe lambs sold to a 33% clearance, with the category averaging $243/head - back $19 on last week. From Gilgandra, NSW, a line of 200 future breeder ewe lambs weighing 59.8kg lwt returned the top price of $281/head and will travel to a buyer in Manilla, NSW.
Joined ewe listings accounted for 29% of the catalogue this week, with SIL Merino and first cross ewe listings totaling 4,298 and 2,246 head, respectively. While many quality lines of proven breeders were listed, clearance rates across both categories reflected buyers playing a waiting game, as just 18% of both SIL first cross ewes and Merino ewes were sold at auction – making a true price trend very difficult to ascertain.
SIL shedding breed ewes sold to an 80% clearance, as demand for shedding sheep has been stable over the past few weeks. Prices for the category ranged from $149-$685/head, to average $454/head across the 2,395 head offered. From Molong, NSW, a line of 156 Australian White SIL ewes aged 9-10 months weighing 47kg lwt returned $595/head - $300 above their reserve price.
Unjoined ewe categories followed a similar trend to joined breeders, as clearance rates and prices remained dull. Shedding breed ewes had the largest offering with 3,396 head, which sold to an 18% clearance to average $168/head.
NSM Merino ewe hoggets accounted for 4% of the offering, at 1,674 head, which averaged $184/head and returned a clearance of 66%. From Broken Hill, NSW, a line of 200 13-14-month-old Merino ewe hoggets weighing 43kg lwt returned $208/head and will travel to Mildura, Victoria.