SCANNED in-lamb first cross ewes, unjoined Merino ewe hoggets and Merino wether lambs were the only bright spots in online sales last week.
The AuctionsPlus commercial sheep and lamb listings dropped 21 percent to 44,155 head.
The overall market was flat, with the clearance rate increasing 2pc, and the average value paid over reserve increasing $3 and the crossbred lamb indicator falling $2.
AuctionsPlus said prices mainly fell across the board where week-on-week comparisons could be made.
Supply deficits were reflected from Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria with numbers back between 24-39pc from the previous week as producers sat and waited on listing stock given the forecasted rain. Given the good falls across Victoria and New South Wales, listings next week are expected to pick up.
Crossbred lambs continued their price slide, falling a further $2 this week to average $94 for the 7564 head offered. This represented a 34pc fall in supply for crossbred lambs and given the smaller pool of stock, bidding was scarce with a 34pc clearance. At Booborowie in South Australia, 100 July-August 2022 drop White Suffolk/Merino cross mixed sex lambs sold for $110 or 255c/kg lwt.
Merino wether lambs had a stronger week for a smaller offering of 9475 head, resulting in a 75pc clearance and the average price rising $6 to $59. At Coolah in NSW, 417 July/August 2022 Merino wether lambs weighing 49kg returned the top price of $94, or 194c/kg lwt.
AuctionsPlus sold 39pc of the 6503 scanned in-lamb Merino ewes for an average of $109/head – down $2. At Albury in NSW, SIL 22-24 month-old Merino ewes weighing 64kg sold for $137/head – $7 over the reserve price.
The listings of SIL shedding breed ewes increased 78pc to 1736 head and 43pc of these sold for an average price of $154/head – down $7. At Cobbora in NSW, two even lines of 240 11-14 month-old Australian White/Dorper ewes SIL to Australian White rams, and weighing 42kg made the top price of $176/head.
Note: Prices as at 5pm Thursday, 8th June 2023
Source – AuctionsPlus.
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