LAMB prices improved on AuctionsPlus last week, as sheep and lamb listings held steady, falling only 1 percent, after significant declines in previous weeks.

The overall clearance rate dropped seven percent and the Value Over Reserve rose $6 to $15.

The ARLI Indicator, AuctionsPlus’ restocker indicator fell 166c/kg to 501c/kg, and the Crossbred Lamb Indicator lifted by 10pc to $136.

The aferage prices for crossbred lambs and Merino wether lambs lifted $12/head, with the crossbreds achieving an 86pc clearance and the wethers a 51pc clearance.

The biggest gains in a dollars per head basis were achieved in the scanned in-lamb composite/other breed ewe category, that recorded a $78 lift in average price and 94pc clearance in a yarding that was 354pc larger.

Listings were down across all states except NSW, with producers from that state putting an additional 5,238 head on the market. Buyer activity was down across the country, apart from in Victoria where an additional 966 head were purchased compared to the previous week.

Processors bought 4pc of the offering.

Crossbred lambs registered a 31pc smaller offering at 5590 head, with the average price rising $12/head to $136/head for an 86pc clearance rate.

At Millthorpe in NSW, 330 Poll Dorset/Border Leicester/Merino mixed sex, Sep/Nov ’23 drop, and weighing 40kg lwt, returned $156/head, or 387c/kg and will travel to a buyer in Forbes, NSW.

Merino wether lambs registered a 63pc increase in offering to 6606 head, with the average price rising $12 for a 51pc clearance.

At Yunta in SA, 670 Poll Merino wethers, Jul/Aug ’23 drop, and weighing 40kg lwt returned $85/head, or 213c/kg and will travel to a buyer in Nuriootpa, SA.

Scanned in-lamb Merino ewes registered an 8pc lift in the offering to 8165 head, with the average prices rising $12 to $121/head for a 49pc clearance.

Note: Prices as at 5pm Thursday, 30th May 2024.