Weekly Sheep & Lamb Comments - Week ending Friday 9th September 2022

Originally published Wednesday 7th September 2022, updated Friday 9th September 2022.

AuctionsPlus weekly commercial sheep and lamb listings totaled 67,181 head, a 51% increase from the previous week.National lamb sale listings hit 42,860 head, up 57% on last week, with new season wether lambs accounting for 46% of this week’s total offering. Increased listings across the lamb category saw prices across three of the five categories ease on last week, with clearance rates mixed. Joined ewe listings were tighter this week, with prices across most of the categories increasing. Post-sale negotiations continue to assist vendors and buyers find market value, with 5,386 head selling post auction, lifting clearance to finish the week at 80%.

Interestingly this week, 53% of purchases were secured by Victorian buyers who were keenly sourcing Merino wether lambs from NSW, purchasing a total of 22,280 out of the 24,777 head of wether lambs offered from NSW.

Crossbred lambs registered a smaller week-on-week offering, at 6,851 head, down 14% on the previous week. Selling from $95-$160, the category averaged $136/head – back $5, with strong buyer interest helping the clearance rate reach 90% at the immediate close of sale. From Strathalbyn, SA, a line of 220 Suffolk/Dohne mixed sex store lambs weighing 41kg lwt sold for $150/head to a buyer from Victoria.

Merino wether lambs recorded the largest lamb offering, with the 30,819 head accounting for 72% of lamb listings for the week. The increased offering failed to dampen prices, with the category averaging $112/head – up $1, with clearance climbing to 91% after reaching 86% at the immediate close of sale. From Booligal, NSW, two lines of 46kg lwt wether lambs returned the top price for the category at $146/head.

Joined ewe listings continued their recent downward trend, with the 6,809 head back 17% on last week. SIL Shedding breed ewes registered the largest offering, at 1,246 head, which sold to a 100% clearance rate. Prices for the category averaged $478/head – up $262 on last week.

Unjoined ewes accounted for 24% of the weekly offering, with 16,072 head. Prices for the categories were mixed, while clearance rates remained strong. Non-station mated Merino ewes registered the largest offering for the unjoined categories, with the 5,289 head selling to strong demand, reaching a 72% clearance. Prices ranged from $148 to $272, to average $217/head – up $59.

Merino ewe hoggets eased slightly on last week, with the 4,572 head averaging $235/head – back $1. Mixed buyer demand saw a 50% clearance rate at auction, although post sale negotiations lifted clearance to 78% as buyers and sellers found an eventual middle ground. From Coonamble, NSW, a line of 400 NSM Merino ewes weighing 47kg lwt, returned $228/head.

Composite/other breed ewes averaged $248/head, with the 2,045 head selling to an 84% clearance. From Condobolin, NSW, a line of 210 Dohne ewes weighing 65kg lwt returned $252/head.

Note: Prices as at 5pm, Thursday 8^th September 2022