These 228 Border Leicester x Merino ewes April/May 22 drop averaging 87kg with 330 lambs at foot, from Lorquon, VIC, returned $305/head, or 351c/kg last week and will travel to a buyer near Hamilton, VIC

AuctionsPlus sheep and lamb listings have continued to rise off last week’s recovery in numbers, with 81,158 head offered last Tuesday and Thursday, up 45pc on the previous week’s yarding.

The clearance declined six percentage points to finish the week at 65pc. Prices have taken a cut, with the Crossbred Lamb indicator down a further 4pc from last week to average $138 a head. The AuctionsPlus Restocker Lamb indicator however has risen 35c/kg above last week’s numbers to average 736c/kg dressed.

The new season lamb offerings have continued to rise, with a total of 56,368 offered up 55% from the 36,301 offered last week. This week’s offerings will be the greatest total of new season lambs offered across the platform this spring.

This category made up 69pc of the total yarding. New season lambs achieved a 76pc clearance, down from 83pc the previous week. Meanwhile, the average price gained $7 per head to average $127 last week.

With nearly 30 lots passed-in for post sale negotiation at Tuesday’s National Lamb Sale, reserves are still finding their balance.

AuctionsPlus’ network general manager Paul Holm said now that processors had begun to offer longer-term contracts to suppliers, reserves needed to be reasonable for producers to continue to receive these deals.

“It would be optimal for agents and vendors to be mindful of the margin for trade with the processor posing a greater risk in accepting the longer term contracts,” Mr Holm said.

Listings increased significantly across all active states, with NSW experiencing the most significant increase in numbers. NSW listings totaled 55,897, experiencing a 15,468 increase from the previous week. Queensland showed a small increase in numbers with 3237 head listed. Offerings from South Australia and Victoria continue to rise. South Australia experienced the greatest change listing an additional 5142 bringing the total offered to 10,284.

The NSW Riverina remained the highest listing region, with 22,353 head listed, making up 27pc of the week’s total sheep and lamb offerings.

Crossbred lambs registered 25,919 head, up 26pc from the numbers seen the previous week, with prices increasing to average of $135 up on the week before’s $125.

Merino wether lambs witnessed a sharp incline in numbers, lifting 95pc from the previous week. The 29,715 head offered averaged $112, rising $16 from the week prior.

From Lorquon, VIC 228 Border Leicester x Merino ewes April/May 22 drop averaging 87kg with 330 lambs returned $305/head, or 351c/kg and will travel to a buyer near Hamilton, VIC

First cross ewe lamb prices felt a squeeze, averaging $158/head down $11 on last week. However the clearance rate lifted to 71pc from 34pc the previous week.

From Deniliquin, NSW 400 Ultrawhite ewes April/May 2022 drop averaging 49kg returned $273, or 561c and will travel to a buyer near Serpentine, VIC

Not station mated shedding Merino ewe hoggets averaged $133/head, falling $10 from the previous week. Listing numbers for the category were up 10pc, with 6175 included in the offering, compared to 5621 the week before.

Prices as at 5pm Thursday, September 19.

Source: AuctionsPlus