These Poll Dorset-Merino cross wether lambs weighing 34.kg lwt at Emmaville in NSW sold for $109 or 707ckg on AuctionsPlus last week.

LAMB and sheep clearance rates improved for a smaller offering of 36,026 head, 9 percent fewer, on AuctionsPlus last week.

AuctionsPlus said the tighter supply was met with a 1pc increase in the average clearance rate to 78pc.

The average price for Merino wether lambs lifted $13 to $88 ($51-$110 range); however, the crossbred lamb indicator reduced 9pc to $138/head. The AuctionsPlus Restocker Lamb indicator fell 28 cents to 640c/kg dressed weight.

The offering mainly comprised lambs and joined ewes, with the 15,324 lambs making up 43pc and the 14,630 joined ewes comprising 41pc of the total. The remainder was made up of 5317 unjoined ewes and 755 sheep.

Demand was strongest for the small number of sheep on offer, with 97pc of the 755 head selling. AuctionsPlus cleared 88pc of the unjoined ewe lots. Lamb lines again enjoyed strong demand at an 85pc clearance rate.

Prices were stronger at the bottom end of the national price table this week, with green ink scattered throughout the joined ewes and unjoined ewe categories. Leading the charge in price rises were the joined Merino ewes lifting $44 to average $136. The average price of the scanned in-lamb Merino ewes rose $19 to $123/head.

Merino wethers were keenly sought and the average price paid for Merino wethers rose $41 to $81.

Listings fell from all states, besides Queensland, which offered 4359 head, up 867. NSW producers made the largest offering of 21,048 head, 2558 fewer than the previous week.

Processers and lotfeeders purchased 4.91pc of the sold offering this week, with Merino types being particularly sought after.

AuctionsPlus said the 5413 crossbred lambs offered was 41pc lower. The tighter supply was met with strong demand, with the clearance rate reaching 94pc. However, the average price paid fell by $13 to $125. At Junee in NSW, 352 mixed sex August-October 2023 drop Poll Dorset cross stor3e lambs store lambs weighing 42kg lwt sold for $167, or 397c/kg, to a buyer in Forbes, NSW.

The Merino wether lamb offering lifted 14pc to 6228 head and 81pc sold for an average of $88, up $13. At Tullamore in NSW, 440 August/September 2023 drop lambs weighing 43kg lwt made $110, or 257c/kg, with a buyer in West Wyalong, NSW.

The scanned in-lamb Merino ewe offering fell 22pc to 4412 head. The average price lifted $19 to $123 for a 53pc clearance rate. At Birchip in Victoria, 284 two year-old Merino ewes scanned in lamb to White Suffolk rams and weighing 63kg sold for $150.

The average price for joined Merino ewe rose $44 to $136. The offering of 1647 head was 29pc higher and 77pc sold. At Nyngan in NSW, a vendor sold two lines of 360 SIL Merino ewes for $160 and $176. The top price was paid for 360  three year-old ewes scanned in-lamb to White Suffolk rams and with 67pc multiples.

The offering of Merino ewe hoggets fell 10pc to 1344 head, and 73pc were sold. The average price paid rose $2 to $73. At Burra in South Australia, 440 23-24 month-old Poll Merino ewes weighing 46kg sold for $65, or 141c/kg lwt, to a buyer in Wagga Wagga, NSW.

Note: Prices as at 5pm Thursday, 13th June 2024.

Source – MLA.