Originally published Wednesday 7th December2022, updated Thursday 8th December 2022
Commercial sheep and lamb numbers offered on AuctionsPlus rose by 20% this week, to total 108,883 head. The steady supply of sheep and lambs onto the market was greeted by subdued demand, resulting in another week of volatile price movements. Post-auction negotiations again proved a popular option for buyers to lock in sales, with clearance rates lifting by 16% on Tuesday’s immediate close of sale, to sit at 50% late Thursday.
The National Lamb Sale registered a total of 54,868 head offered across 184 lots – accounting for 51% of the weekly offering. Three out of the six lamb categories registered a decline in prices on last week, with Shedding breed and Composite/other breed lambs rising on last week.
A total of 22,348 Crossbred lambs were offered this week, with post-sale negotiations lifting clearance rates to 72%, up from 52% achieved at the immediate close of the auction. Prices registered a decline of $4 from last week, to average $112/head. From Orange, NSW, a line of Poll Dorset/Border Leicester/Merino mixed sex store lambs weighing 44kg lwt, returned $151/head.
Merino wether lamb numbers rose by 23% from last week, with 13,829 head offered. The spike in listings failed to be absorbed by buyers, reaching a 46% clearance late Thursday – up from 31% at the immediate close of auction. Prices eased by $21 from last week, to average $81/head. A line of 330 Merino wether suckers from Grenfell, NSW, weighing 39kg lwt, averaged $116/head.
Merino ewe lambs had a total offering of 4,323 head this week, a considerable rise on last week’s numbers. Prices for the category ranged between $74-$142/head, to average $106/head, with clearance rates reaching 63% - rising from 41% following Tuesdays’ sale. From Maaoupe, SA, a line of 265 Poll Merino future breeder ewe lambs weighing 30.6kg lwt returned $142/head.
First cross ewe lambs rose by 31% to total 6,390 head, with the category averaging $163/head - back $19 on last week. From Navarre, Victoria, a line of 112 Border Leicester/Poll Merino future breeder ewe lambs weighing 43.7kg lwt returned $156/head. Clearance rates reached a subdued 23% for the category, as buyers looked for quality breeding lines.
Composite/other breed lambs sold to the highest demand across the lamb categories reaching 82% late Thursday – up from 50% at the immediate close of sale. The 5,172 head offering was back 44% on last week, with the reduced offering spurring prices to rise by $6, to average $112/head. From Morgiana, Victoria, a line of 108 Chasmore nudie wether lambs weighing 43kg lwt returned $132/head.
The National Sheep Sale had a total of 51,174 head listed across 246 lots. Subdued clearance was again noted across the sale, with reduced demand making the establishment of true market indicators a difficult task. Joined ewe numbers totaled 6,981 head, with post-sale negotiations seeing buyers favor the unjoined offerings.
SM shedding breed ewes were the largest of the joined ewe categories, with the 3,488 head offered rising by 31% on the previous week. Prices for the category rose $44 on last week to average $209/head, as several high-quality lines contributed to the higher average. Topping the category for the week included a line of 14-18-month-old Australian White SM ewe hoggets weighing 54kg lwt. Hailing from Appila, SA, the 250 ewes were split across two even lines and returned $492/head.
Unjoined ewe numbers rose considerably on last week, with Merino ewe hoggets and Merino ewe listings rising by 94% and 59% from last week, respectively. Following a similar trend to the remainder of the sheep and lamb market, prices remained subdued, with post-sale negotiations helping to lift initial clearance rates. Going against the trend, Merino ewe hoggets registered a $23 rise on last week to average $216/head, while clearance rates reached 35% late Thursday, up from 20% at the immediate close of sale.
Merino ewes averaged $16 cheaper on last week at $170/head, with the 16,298 head experiencing the positive effects of post-sale negotiations, rising to 42% late Thursday - up from a subdued 20% at the immediate close of sales. From Nareen, Victoria, a line of five-year-old Merino ewes, weighing 61kg lwt returned $76 above reserve at $186/head.
Unjoined shedding breed ewe listings rose by 17% on last week, with the offering of 4,197 head averaging $3 higher on last week at $222/head. Clearance for the category reached 57% - the highest across all unjoined ewe categories. From Diggora, Victoria, three even lines of Australian White ewes aged 11-12 months returned $312 and $318/head. Split across two buyers, the ewes will travel to Northern Victoria and NSW Riverina regions, respectively.
Note: Prices as at 5pm, Thursday 8th December 2022