Weekly Sheep & Lamb Market Report

AuctionsPlus commercial sheep listings eased to 94,803 head this week, reflecting an 18% decrease. Despite the reduced offering, value over reserve surged by $10, reaching an average of $12 per head. 

Week ending Thursday, November 21

AuctionsPlus commercial sheep listings eased to 94,803 head this week, reflecting an 18% decrease. Despite the reduced offering, value over reserve surged by $10, reaching an average of $12 per head. 

Shedding breed lambs registered a larger offering with 868 head, with prices averaging $140/head for a 100% clearance.

Merino mixed sexed category registered a larger offering with 851 head, with prices increasing on last week to average $52/head - up $16 from last week for a 68% clearance.

New season lambs made up 73% of the week's total yarding with 69,405 head offered. The average price per head has risen $4 on last week, averaging $7/head over the reserve price. However, clearance was down 8% ending the week at 42% clearance for the category. 

NSW and Victoria were the most dominant listing states. The NSW offering had increased 8,438 on last week to end the week with 42,924 listed. Meanwhile, Victorian listings account for 32,989 head of the total yarding. 

NSW remained the leading purchasing state, buying 19,294 head. Purchasing activity increased in South Australia and Queensland, with South Australia purchasing an additional 1,500 head to reach 6,234 for the week.

Highlights

From Evansford, Victoria, a line of 200 White Suffolk/Border Leicester/Merino mixed sexed June 2024 drop lambs weighing 41kg lwt returned $152/head, or 371c/kg and will travel to a buyer in Penola, South Australia.

From Junee Reefs, NSW, a line of 270 Border Leicester/Merino ewes aged 2.5 years old and weighing 79kg returned $262/head, or 330c/kg lwt, and will travel to a buyer in Wagga Wagga, NSW.

From Delegate, NSW, a line of 315 Primeline ewes aged two years old and weighing 73kg returned $210/head, or 290c/kg lwt and will travel to a buyer in Wagga Wagga, NSW.

Weekly Market Price Tables

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Editor's note: You may have noticed we've made some changes to our weekly sheep market report. Never before have APlus News readers had access to so much data - covering not only this week's sale, but four weeks worth of information, all in one interactive table.

Week ending Thursday, November 14

AuctionsPlus commercial sheep and lamb listings lifted 7% to 115,121 head. The slightly larger offering yielded a clearance rate of 51%, which was heavily influenced by low clearance in the merino wether lamb and joined ewe categories.

The Crossbred Lamb indicator fell by 5% to average $125/head, while the Restocker Lamb indicator also softened by 56c, averaging 635c/kg dressed.

More than an additional 10,000 head of new season lambs - 87,683 head up from 72,827 head last week - were offered on the platform. They returned an average price of $114/head, the same as last week, with a 51% clearance rate.

There was a 53% increase to the number of first cross ewe lambs offered this week, that was met with an average of $49/head increase from the previous week at $169/head.

However, joined ewes and lambs were not in favour, with just a 43% clearance. Meanwhile the 4,460 head of composite/other breed ewes only achieved a 4% clearance, but held steady at $154/head.

While Queensland and NSW offerings were reduced this week, Victoria lifted the number of sheep and lambs offered. However, it was South Australia that had the biggest change, offering an additional 18,215 head this week.

NSW producers were responsible for the highest levels of purchases, with Victoria also active, although in a reduced capacity. South Australia only took home just over 4000 head, in recognition of the tough conditions being experienced by the state. 

Highlights

From Bigga, NSW, a line of 200 Dorset/Border Leicester/Merino mixed sex June/July 2024 drop lambs weighing 39kg lwt returned $149/head, or 384c/kg and will travel to a buyer in Orange, NSW.

From Keith, SA, a line of 620 Poll Merino ewes, April 2024 drop and weighing 38kg lwt returned $110/head, or 289c/kg and will travel to a buyer in Swan Hill, Victoria.

From Kingston, SA, a line of 270 Merino ewes July 24 drop and weighing 29kg lwt returned $69/head, or 238c/kg, and will travel to a buyer in Birchip, Victoria.

Week ending Thursday, November 7, 2024

AuctionsPlus commercial sheep and lamb listings lifted to 107,186 head, with a significant increase of 35% from last week. The larger offering was met with subdued competition as clearance fell to 46%, caused mainly by a low clearance rate in Crossbred Lambs.

The Crossbred Lamb indicator rose by 3% to average $131/head, while the Restocker Lamb indicator has also risen, averaging 686c/kg dressed.

The platform saw an influx in new season lamb numbers this week, with the market struggling to absorb the larger yarding of 72,827 head offered. The category made up 68% the all commercial sheep and lamb listings this week, returning an average price of $112, falling $8 per head from last week.

The larger increase in numbers might have caught both buyers and vendors by surprise and could have led to adjustments in reserves to misalign with the higher volume.

Crossbred Lambs registered a larger offering with head, with prices increasing on last week to average $131/head - up $4 from last week. However, clearance fell to 32%.

Merino Wethers registered a smaller offering with 3,471 head, with prices increasing on last week to average $91/head for a 89% clearance.

NSW retained its position as the top listing state this week, finishing with 44,597 head offered—an increase of 11,206 head from last week’s yarding.

Victoria also saw a substantial uplift in listing numbers, with the yarding up 14,036 to end the week with a total of 34,696 listed.

Queensland also saw an increase in listing and purchasing activity, with listings up 3,712 to total 5,102 by the end of the week. 

Purchasing activity was down in the southern states, Victoria saw the greatest decline in purchasing activity, ending the week at 13,709 head offered.

In contrast, the purchasing volume out of NSW and Queensland has increased, with Queensland showing the greatest change in activity with purchasing numbers lifting to 3,194 by the week's end.

Highlights

From Tandarra, VIC a line of 30 Australian White ewes aged 14 to 18 months old and weighing 73kg returned $210/head, or 289c/kg lwt and will travel to a buyer in Bendigo, VIC.

From Naracoorte, SA a line of 377 Border Leicester/Poll Merino wethers  May 2021 drop and weighing 39kg lwt returned $145/head, or 372c/kg and will travel to a buyer in Horsham, VIC.

From Cootamundra, NSW a line of 420 Merino/Merino ewes aged 16 to 17 months old and weighing 55kg returned $170/head, or 310c/kg lwt and will travel to a buyer in Boorowa, NSW.

Week ending Thursday, October 31, 2024

AuctionsPlus commercial sheep and lamb have risen by 9% this week, ending the week with  79,436 head offered. The larger offering was met with subdued competition as clearance fell to 66%. Value over reserve held steady from last week to average $10.

The Crossbred Lamb indicator fell by 1% to average $129/head, while the Restocker Lamb indicator has also softened, averaging 675c/kg dressed.

New season lambs have performed well across the platform this week, ending the week at 77% clearance across the 46,400 head offered. The category made up 58% the all commercial sheep and lamb listings this week, returning an average price of $120, lifting $3 per head from last week.

 AuctionsPlus General Manager – Network, Paul Holm, believes that overall, the lamb market was positive this week with close to 80% of lots sold after post auction negotiations.

"Up to 50% of post sale negotiations were to a level of the preset reserve, which would indicate strong demand from buyers. On top of the fact, that 90% of lots received a bid during auction," Mr Holm said. 

Just over 10% of lots in the Tuesday National Lamb Sale received no bids. In review, AuctionsPlus found that when reserves are set more realistically and conservatively, vendors are more likely to attract stronger market competition and achieve better results.

Merino Ewe Lambs registered a larger offering with 6,156 head, with prices increasing on last week to average $68/head - up $1 from last week for a 95% clearance.

NSW retained its position as the top listing state this week, finishing with 33,391 head offered—an increase of 1,480 head from last week’s yarding.

South Australia followed as the second-largest listing state, with a significant rise in listings, up by 6,822 head to reach 23,425 offered by week’s end.

Purchasing activity also rose in the southern states. Victoria saw a substantial increase, with purchasing numbers up by 4,836 head, making it the top purchasing state with 20,915 head bought.

In contrast, the purchasing volume out of NSW declined, dropping by 8,405 head to end the week with 19,230 head purchased

Highlights

From Ariah park, NSW a line of 216 Poll Dorset/Border Leicester/Merino mixed sexs  June 2024 drop and weighing 45kg lwt returned $171/head, or 381c/kg and will travel to a buyer in Griffith, NSW.

From Willalooka, SA a line of 164 Australian White ewes April 2024 drop and weighing 44kg lwt returned $260/head, or 586c/kg and will travel to a buyer in Tintinara, SA.

From Apsley, SA a line of 250 Primeline ewes July 2024 drop and weighing 47kg lwt returned $230/head, or 485c/kg and will travel to a buyer in Kaniva, VIC.

Week ending Thursday, October 24, 2024

AuctionsPlus commercial sheep and lamb have fallen by 8% this week, ending the week with  72,619 head offered. The softening in numbers comes off the back of last week's uplift with 78,974 head offered, which was 15% greater than the week prior.

The smaller offering was met with strong demand as clearance increased to 79% and value over reserve lifted by lifted by $3 to average $10.

The Crossbred Lamb indicator rose by 6% to average $130/head, while the Restocker Lamb indicator has continued to climb, averaging 734c/kg dressed.

New season lambs have performed well across the platform this week, ending the week at 87% clearance across the 46,348 head offered. The category made up 63% the all commercial sheep and lamb listings this week, returning an average price of $117, lifting $7 per head from last week.

NSW has remained the highest listing and purchasing state this week. NSW has ended the week with 31,911 head offered, however, this figure had decreased by 5,089 offered last week.

The second largest listing state was Victoria, which has had a marginal increase in there listings by 808 head to end the week with 21,298 offered. South Australia had also experienced a slight rise in numbers this week, ending the week with 16,603 offered.

Purchasing volume had softened across all states this week except Victoria this week, where purchasing numbers rose by 391 head. NSW has remained the largest purchasing state ending the week with 27,635 purchased.

Highlights

From Burrumbuttock, NSW a line of 268 Poll Dorset/Border Leicester/Merino mixed sexed  April 2024 drop and weighing 38kg lwt returned $160/head, or 421c/kg and will travel to a buyer in Boweya, VIC.

From Barellan, NSW a line of 170 Border Leicester/Merino ewes aged 14 to 16 months old and weighing 59kg returned $226/head, or 382c/kg lwt and will travel to a buyer in Woodstock, NSW.

From Grenfell, NSW a line of 254 Merino/Merino ewes aged 2.4 to 2.5 years old and weighing 64kg returned $172/head, or 271c/kg lwt and will travel to a buyer in Wagga wagga, NSW.

Week ending Thursday, October 17, 2024

The sheep and lamb market experienced some fluctuation this week, with clearance rates rising three percentage points to end the week at an average of 71% clearance, while value over reserve fell by $1 to average $8/head. 

The Crossbred Lamb indicator rose by 4% to average $124/head, while the Restocker Lamb indicator has continued to climb, averaging 700c/kg dressed.

NSW was the highest listing and purchasing state this week. NSW has ended the week with 37,000 head offered, however, this figure had decreased by 7,614 offered last week.

The second largest listing state was Victoria, which had increased there listings by 8,274 head to end the week with 20,490 offered. South Australia and Queensland had also seen a rise in numbers this week. 

Purchasing volume had increased across all states this week. South Australia had seen the biggest rise in purchases, up 4,389 head to end the week with a total of 12,411 sold into the state.  

Highlights

From Goornong, Victoria, a line of 275 Border Leicester/Merino ewes aged 2.5 years old and weighing 67kg returned $306/head, or 456c/kg lwt and will travel to a buyer in St Arnaud, Victoria.

From Narromine, NSW, a line of 240 Border Leicester/Merino ewes April 2024 drop and weighing 46kg lwt returned $255/head, or 560c/kg and will travel to a buyer in Warren, NSW.

From Lake Wongan, Victoria, a line of 83 White Suffolk ewes aged two years old and weighing 75kg returned $301/head, or 401c/kg lwt and will travel to a buyer in Invergordon, Victoria.