Shedding lines and Merino lambs up in prices

One of the features of last week’s sale was a return to some high clearance rates for the larger lamb categories, with reports indicating sellers were keen to lock in deals and offload numbers heading into the second half of Autumn.

Merino wether lambs registered a 93% clearance rate for the 12,396 head offered, while crossbreds (5,832 head) and shedding lines (1,176 head) recorded clearance rates of 95% and 94%, respectively.

In respect to prices, shedding lines finished the week up $13/head, at $239, while Merino wether lambs were up $1 on last week, at $141, while crossbreds were steady at $166/head.

In contrast to the above categories, the clearance rate for future breeder ewe lambs was significantly lower, at 41% for first cross ewe lambs and 65% for Merino ewe lambs.

With prices up coincidently $36/head for both categories, it appears that sellers are happy to set higher reserve levels, with the seasonal conditions enabling flexibility to carry ewe lambs through if required.

Merino ewe lambs finished the week averaging $197, with first cross ewe lambs at $244/head.

Matching the increased return for ewe lambs was a stronger market for SIL ewes, with both main categories registering higher prices for the week – but again at mixed clearance rates. With 13,262 SIL Merino ewes offered for the week, the average price jumped $17, to $262/head – with the clearance rate hitting 70%.

For a slightly larger offering of SIL first cross ewes compared to last week, at 4,944 head, the average price reached $338 – up $53/head on last week, with a clearance rate at 53%.

Weekly averages for NSM ewe lines were mixed this week, with the 3,190 head of NSM Merino ewes down $14 on last week, at $174/head – even with a 92% clearance rate. Despite having similar clearance rates for the week at 76% and 74%, respectively, the composite/other ewe category increased $72/head on last week, to $252/head, while shedding breed ewes fell $77, to average $277/head.

-AuctionsPlus