These 38.4kg (17.3kg) March-April drop Poll Dorset cross lambs at Dubbo in NSW sold for $135 on AuctionsPlus last week.

AUCTIONSPLUS weekly commercial sheep and lamb listings increased by 29 percent to 44,598 head, including 27,265 lambs as new season listings continued to increase.

Average prices across three of the five lamb categories rose and strong clearance rates were achieved, highlighting the rising demand in the lamb market.

Unjoined ewe categories also performed well this week, with most recording price rises; however, clearance rates were mixed across the categories. Post-sale negotiations after the close of last Tuesday’s sales resulted in all listed categories finding sales for at least one line.

The average price for crossbred lambs lifted $9 to $141, with 92pc of 7835 head offered eventually being sold by late Thursday, up from 85pc at the immediate close of sales. At Nyngan in New South Wales, 208 mixed sex first cross trade lambs weighing 58kg lwt sold for $173.

Merino wether lambs was the largest lamb category — with 16,569 head — up 112pc. Prices averaged $111, up $10. The clearance rate softened slightly to 89pc by late Thursday, back from 96pc the previous week. At Hay in NSW, 340 store wether lambs weighing 36kg lwt made $111 with a Victorian buyer.

The number of Merino ewe lambs listed eased to 650 head, continuing the recent trend of seasonally small numbers for the category. The $43 drop to an average price of $157 was the only weekly decline for lambs. A line of 420 ewe lambs at Thallon in Queensland weighing 44kg lwt sold for $176 to a NSW buyer.

First cross ewe lambs gained the most from the highs of post-sale negotiations, with the 2111 head reaching a 70pc clearance by late Thursday, up from 55pc at the immediate close of sale. The average price rose $52 to $266. The top price of $356 was paid for 212 scanned empty ewe lambs weighing 58kg lwt at Tottenham, NSW.

The 8240 joined ewes made up 19pc of total listings. The 2199 scanned in-lamb first cross ewes was the largest category, but only 47pc sold. The average price of $150 was $133 lower than the previous week.

After post-sale negotiations, AuctionsPlus sold 92pc of the 1405 scanned in-lamb Merino ewes for an average of $139, back $72. Only 27pc were sold in the actual sale. At Condobolin in NSW, 380 ewes scanned in-lamb to Border Leicester rams and weighing 66kg lwt made $232.

The 1301 scanned in-lamb shedding breed ewes were in strong demand and all sold for an average price of $216, $158 lower. AuctionsPlus had sold 69pc in the sale. At Barham in NSW, 196 Dorper ewes weighing 42kg lwt and SIL to Dorper rams sold for $214.

The 7366 unjoined ewes accounted for 17pc of the total offering. Prices for three of the five categories were up on last week, with demand also up across the categories.

There was slightly stronger demand for the 2122 Merino ewe hoggets offered, and the clearance lifted from 7pc at the immediate close of sale to 43pc by late Thursday. The average price rose $10 to $236.

The average price for unjoined Merino ewes lifted $17to $158 across the 3,360 head offered. Demand for the category was strong with an eventual 85pc clearance rate, after just 45pc were sold in the sale. At Pyramid Hill in Victoria, 195 unjoined ewes weighing 55kg lwt made $200.

Shedding breed ewes averaged $187 — down $30 — the only price decrease in the unjoined categories. Prices ranged from $110-$254 and 47pc of the 1294 head offered were sold.

Note: Prices as at 5pm, Thursday 1st September 2022

Source – AuctionsPlus.