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Lamb prices lift for flood-affected AuctionsPlus offering

Sheep Central, November 7, 2022

These 11-12 month-old May shorn Poll Merino ewes weighing 51.5kgs at Inverell, NSW, sold for $178 on AuctionsPlus last week.

SHEEP and lamb listings on AuctionsPlus dropped 35 per cent to 64,184 head last week, highlighting the impact of widespread rain and flooding across eastern Australia.

Central West New South Wales producers saw the largest offering by region at 11,691 head, followed by the Riverina (7732 head) and south-west slopes and plains (6651 head).

The National Lamb Sale offered 38,976 head, the clearance rate reached 90 percent, up from the previous week’s 76pc. Four of the six lamb categories averaged higher, while a small offering of composite/other breeds averaged lower than the previous week.

Crossbred lambs continue to dominate weekly listings, accounting for 34pc with 22,081 head. The smaller week-on-week offering sold to strong demand, reaching a 93pc clearance late Thursday, up from the previous week’s 76pc. Prices remained steady, averaging $140/head. Two lines of second cross Poll Dorset/composite mixed sex lambs at Willaura Victoria, weighing 41kg lwt sold for $157, $12 over their reserve price.

There were 6285 Merino wether lambs offered, back 61pc. Increased competition for quality lines led to the average price improving by $14 to $125, with the category registering an 83pc clearance rate up from 67pc at the conclusion of auctions. At Gladstone in South Australia, 340 Poll Merino wether suckers weighing 30kg lwt made $130.

Merino ewe lamb prices rose $3 to average $151 across the 2396 head offering. Demand remained strong and the category had a 94pc clearance, up from 79pc at the immediate closure of sales. At Crookwell in NSW, two lines of future breeder ewe lambs weighing 41kg lwt sold for $234 and $232, $54 and $52 above their respective reserves.

AuctionsPlus offered 2698 first cross ewe lambs, back 52pc. Prices averaged higher at $226/head, up $30, for a 71pc clearance. Returning the top price for the category was 125 first ewe lambs at Wellington, NSW, weighing 44kg lwt, that sold for $262.

Shedding breed lambs sold to strong demand, with the 1350 head offered all selling for from $126-$163, to average $153. At Morven, Queensland, 530 Dorper store wether lambs weighing 41kg lwt $163/head to a buyer in NSW.

The National Sheep Sale offered 13,599 head the final clearance was 63pc by late Thursday, up from 55pc at the immediate end of the sale

Joined ewe numbers continue to account for a small portion of the weekly offering, with just 1047 head offered. AuctionsPlus said the limited offering made it difficult to determine any price trends across the categories, while demand for shedding and composite joined ewes was strong, with 100pc clearances across the three categories on offer.

The 485 scanned in-lamb shedding breed ewes all sold, for $360-$475, to average $451. Two lines of 130 Australian White ewes aged 18 to 50 months, weighing 69kg lwt and scanned in-lamb to Australian White rams made $475/head. They were offered as part of a flock dispersal from Molong, NSW.

Unjoined ewe numbers remained strong despite a softer listing week, with the 23,348 head accounting for 37pc of total listings. Prices across two of the five reported categories increased on last week, with post sale negotiations helping to lift clearance rates.

NSM Merino ewe hoggets registered the largest unjoined offering for the week, with 7,702 head. The category felt the impact of selective buying, with prices easing $5 on last week to average $248/head, while clearance rates reached 57% up from 46% at the immediate closure of sales. From Swan Hill, Victoria, a line of 340 15-18-month-old ewes, weighing 71kg lwt returned $290/head to a buyer in NSW.

NSM Merino ewe numbers totaled 3,706 head, with prices rising $4 to average $197/head – while clearance rates reached 70% late Thursday up from Tuesday’s 60%. A line of 415, 3.5-year-old ewes from Euchareena, NSW, weighing 53kg lwt, returned $214/head.

Unjoined shedding breed ewes registered the largest listing increase on last week, with the 2,289 head offering up 88%. The increased offering was met with strong demand, seeing the category reach a 99% clearance rate up from 74% at the immediate closure of sales, while prices eased $24 to average $247/head. From Muckadilla, Queensland a line of 480 White Dorper ewes Feb/Mar 22’ drop weighing 43kg lwt returned $200.

Note: Prices as at 5pm, Thursday 3rd November 2022.

Source – AuctionsPlus.

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