Commercial sheep and lamb listings dropped further this week, decreasing 21% with 44,155 head offered. The overall market was flat, with clearance increasing 2 percentage points, value over reserve increasing $3 and the crossbred lamb indicator falling $2. Prices mainly fell across the board where week-on-week comparisons could be made, as only Merino wether lambs and SIL first cross ewes saw any green ink.
Supply deficits were reflected from Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria with numbers back between 24% to 39% from last week as producers sat and waited on listing stock given the forecasted rain. Given the good falls across Victoria and New South Wales, listings next week are expected to pick up.
Table 1: AuctionsPlus National Weekly Sheep and Lamb Prices
Link 2: National Lamb Sale Results
Link 3: Tuesday National Sheep Sale Results
Report: Interactive Market Dashboard - NEW
Crossbred lambs continued their price slide, falling a further $2 this week to average $94 for the 7,564 head offered. This represented a 34% fall in supply for crossbred lambs and given the smaller pool of stock, bidding was scarce with 34% clearance. From Booborowie, SA, a line of 100 White Suffolk/Merino Jul/Aug ‘22 and 43kg lwt mixed sex lambs sold for $110/head, or 255c/kg lwt.
Merino wether lambs had a stronger week across a smaller offering of 9,475 head, resulting in a 75% clearance and the prices rising $6 to average $59/head. From Coolah, NSW, a line of 417 Jul/Aug ’22 Merino wether lambs weighing 49kg returned the top price of $94/head, or 194c/kg lwt.
SIL Merino ewes registered 6,503 head and averaged $109/head - down $2 from last week for a 39% clearance rate. From Albury, NSW, a line of 180 SIL Merino ewes aged 22-24 months old and weighing 64kg returned $137/head - $7 over the reserve price.
Listings of SIL shedding breed ewes increased 78% to 1,736 head and averaged $154/head – down $7 from last for a 43% clearance rate. From Cobbora, NSW, two even lines of 240 Australian White/Dorper ewes SIL to Australian White rams, aged 11-14 months old and weighing 42kg returned the top price of $176/head.
Note: Prices as at 5pm Thursday, 8th June 2023
Table 1: AuctionsPlus National Weekly Sheep and Lamb Prices
AuctionsPlus Interactive Sheep Market Report