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Online buyers focus on store sheep and lamb opportunities

Sheep Central, November 22, 2021

These 36.7kg June-August 2021 drop White Suffolk-composite cross mixed sex lambs sold for $170 at Mendooran, NSW, on AuctionsPlus last week.

BREEDING sheep prices took a hit on AuctionsPlus last week, but new season crossbred and Merino wether lamb values held firm in the overall reduced offering.

AuctionsPlus said it was a largely softer sheep and lamb market across commercial sales last week, despite a 6 percent reduction in overall numbers.

Prices eased in most of the joined ewe and ewe categories, although prices improved for small offerings of ewes with lambs.

The total sheep and lamb listings was 7pc above the corresponding week in 2020, with 144,004 head listed and 95,562 head (65pc) of the catalogue consisting of new season lambs.

As large volumes of new season lambs continue to take to the market, prices have softened in November, AuctionsPlus said. However, clearance rates last week were higher than the previous week, although Merino ewe lamb buyers struggled to agree on price with many sellers.

The recent widespread rain through many regions, along with mild conditions throughout November, has been positive and negative for the market, AuctionsPlus said. On the downside, many producers continue to wait for lambs to get some sun on their backs prior to finishing. On the upside, restockers continue to support the market, flushed with ample feed heading into the summer months. Top purchasing regions this week included the New South Wale’s central west (18,190 head), south-west Victoria (11,030 head) and the NSW Riverina (10,897 head).

The largest lamb category last week was again crossbred lambs, with 85pc of 42,003 offered selling. They sold from $102-207 and averaged $153, up $1. Similarly, the average price for Merino wether lambs also edged $1 higher to $139/head, with 74pc of the 24,889 head clearing to buyers.

The average price for 9690 first cross ewe lambs fell $14 to $226 and 72pc sold. Merino ewe lambs sold from $130-$202 and averaged $164, $27/head lower.

Despite a 94% clearance rate for the week, Composite and other breed lambs sold from $100-$259 to average $155, down $46, with a 94pc clearance. Shedding breed lambs sold best at $128-$454, to average $313, up $83.

Prices for all unjoined categories declined last week, with the largest price fall registered for the 14,398 Merino ewes – down $32 to average $199. Similarly, Merino ewe hoggets slipped back $3 to average $260, with a 67pc clearance rate for the 15,258 head offered.

NOTE: Prices as at 5pm, Thursday 11th November, 2021

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