For the fourth consecutive week AuctionsPlus sheep and lamb listings registered a reduced offering, with a total of 62,534 head - back 6% from the previous week. Clearance rates hit 46% following the immediate closure of both the sheep and lamb auctions, as selective buying continues to dictate activity. Rounding out the week, post-sale negotiations in the days following increased overall clearance to 59%. Drying conditions across key sheep regions as well as an uptick in processor and export numbers over recent weeks have contributed to the overall softer market across all categories.
Lamb listings reduced from last week with a total of 27,671 head listed. Prices across five of the six lamb categories eased week-on-week, with mixed clearance rates across the categories following the close of auction.
Crossbred lambs were the only category to register higher prices week on week. Prices rose $9 on last week to average $157/head – at a 71% clearance across the 7,365 head offered. From Harden NSW, a line of Poll Dorset/Primeline mixed sex store lambs weighing 42kg lwt returned $177/head, or 423c/kg.
Merino wether lambs had a total of 10,404 head listed this week, prices averaged $119/head - back $21 on last week, with clearance rates reaching 47%. A large run of 1,000 woolgrower wether lambs from Quindanning WA, weighing 35kg lwt returned $120/head, or 346c/kg. Merino ewe lambs also registered lower prices this week, with the category back $64 to average $126/head. Clearance rates for the category reached 72% across the 2,418 head offered.
Composite/other breed ewe lambs had a reduced offering of 1,713 head this week, which was met with the highest clearance across the lamb categories at 80% - up from 72% following the immediate close of the National Lamb Sale on Tuesday. Prices ranged from $140-$154/head, to average $147/head, back $19 on last week.
Joined ewe numbers totalled 21,622 head this week - accounting for 34% of the total offering.
SIL Merino ewes averaged $237/head, back $34 from last week, with clearance rates for the category reaching 61% across the 10,325 head offered. Topping the category was a line of 19-20-month-old Merino ewes from Corowa NSW, which weighed 72kg and returned $330/head.
SIL Composite/other breed ewes had a total of 4,141 head offered, which averaged $295/head – up $41 from last week, with clearance rates reaching 82%. Returning the top price for the category with $381/head, was a line of 230 Primeline SIL three-year-old ewes from Woodhouse Victoria, weighing 68kg lwt - purchased by a South Australian buyer.
SIL first cross ewes had a total of 2,743 head offered for the week, averaging $278/head - back $25 on last week with a 62% clearance rate.
Unjoined ewe listings accounted for 19% of the weekly offering, at 11,590 head. Prices and clearance rates across the categories were largely subdued as cautious buying ruled.
NSM Merino ewe hoggets averaged $193/head, back $26 from last week, with a clearance of 60% reached, up from 37% following the immediate closure of the Tuesday Sheep Sale. NSM Merino ewes averaged $141/head - back $25 week-on-week with clearance rates reaching 76%.
NOTE: Prices as at 5pm, Thursday 7th April 2022
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