Sheep numbers saw a downward shift from the previous two weeks with yarding’s totaling 65,510, just shy of 27,000 head under last week’s AuctionsPlus listings.Lower numbers didn’t dwindle buyer confidence or prices however, with a strong contingent of online bidders facilitating a clearance rate of 90% across the board.
With the end of spring in sight and summer conditions knocking on the door, Lamb sales are still clearly dominating sheep yarding’s, with over 35,000 head on the box.
Merino ewe lambs were in hot demand and deemed flavor of the week, averaging a strong $142.50 and selling tightly between $131 and $154.
The top price was attained by a mob of 37kg July shorn Tyrone blood future breeders from ‘Bungunya Pastoral Company’ in Moree NSW which were looking very fresh after some recent rain!
Ewe hoggets were well and truly under the hammer this week with a full clearance rate! Average prices remained reasonably stable at $153 with a range between $131 and $202.
A stand out line of 16 to 17-month Merino hoggets from Kaniva VIC stole the spotlight here with the top price.
In addition to this, grown Merino ewes sold well across the board, with prices spanning broadly between $50 and $245.50 to average $153.
Merino Wether lambs were also in hot demand, selling from $90 to $127.50 with an average of $106, a slight jump up from previous weeks’.
Merinos weren’t the only breed getting all the attention this week however; Border Leister ewes & lambs from Cooma NSW were the cream of the crop, topping the market at $300.
Ewes averaged $219 and were well spread between $120 and $264 with the top girls coming from the Yorke Penninsula, SA as part of the top draft of the annual Mumford first cross ewe lamb offering.
Additionally, cross bred Lambs were on the move this week with several lots making long interstate journeys.
Most notably, mixed sex lambs from Kangaroo Island SA will be journeying over 1000km east to Lavington NSW. Cross bred ewes also presented well this week, with strong numbers from SW Victoria and the NSW Riverina. Competitive prices saw a tight range between $192 and $224 with an average of $202.50.