The AuctionsPlus commercial sheep listings rose strongly again this week, up 21% to 86,142 head — a high not seen since the first week of April. The larger offering was met with very strong demand, reaching a clearance rate of 84%. Prices were also encouraging with the Crossbred Lamb Indicator rising 11% to $88 and the AuctionsPlus Restocker Lamb Indicator rising 62 cents to 464 c/kg dress weight. Value over reserve also rose.
It was strong volumes across many catergories, led by crossbred lambs and Merino wether lambs. Merino ewe lambs saw a sizeable jump with listings rising more than six-fold to 5,500 head offered and more than doubled in price in the process.
NSW and Victoria led the way with listings, with around 10,000 extra head offered from each state.
Table 1: AuctionsPlus National Weekly Sheep and Lamb Prices
Report: Interactive Market Dashboard
Last week's 19% drop in Crossbred lambs listings was more than made up for this week, with a 38% rise in listings to 30,722. Buyer confidence was definitely on display with a 93% clearance rate a $9 per head lift in price to an average of $88 per head.
From Crookwell, NSW a line of 500 Poll Dorset/Border Leicester/Merino mixed sex May/Jun drop weighing 44kg lwt returned $137/head, or 309c/kg and will travel to a buyer in Bourke, NSW.
From Bowna, NSW a line of 210 Poll Dorset/Composite mixed sex Jun/Aug '23 drop weighing 32kg lwt returned $95/head, or 297c/kg and will travel to a buyer in Junee, NSW.
Merino Wether Lambs registered a 20% rise in listings to 16,233. Clearance remained strong at 83% and prices rose $10 on last week to average $62/head. From Moulamein, VIC a line of 510 Merino wethers May/Jun drop weighing 49kg lwt returned $120/head, or 247c/kg and will travel to a buyer in Redan, VIC.
Merino ewe lambs soared 548% in listings from 850 last week to 5,508 this week. That pushed clearance down to 67% but prices went in the opposite direction, leaping $44 to average $85 per head. Value over reserve also leapt from near par last week to average $27.
From Hay, NSW a line of 380 Poll Merino ewes aged 1 year and weighing 59kg returned $148/head, or 253c/kg lwt and will travel to a buyer in Wycheproof, VIC.
Note: Prices as at 5pm Thursday, 14th December 2023