Crossbred and composite lambs dearer while Merino wether lambs down

Crossbred-lambs-nsw-Four of the six lamb categories recorded a drop in average prices last week, as crossbred and composite/other breed lambs averaged dearer.

Crossbred lambs accounted for 30% of the catalogue, with the 38,134 head offered matched by robust demand from both restockers and processors, as the category returned a clearance of 88%.

Prices for the category ranged from $101-$226/head, to average $158/head – up $4 on the previous week. The NSW Riverina was the top purchasing region for crossbred lambs, securing 6,802 head.

Merino wether lambs made up 13% of listings, at 16,056 head, with prices averaging $134/head – back $5.

The weight range within the offering ranged from 25-45kgs, with 86% of the offering weighing between 25-35kg liveweight. Demand for the category remained subdued for the second consecutive week, with a clearance rate of 62%.

First cross ewe lambs had the largest price reduction this week, with the category averaging $205/head – back $45.

The clearance rate of 49% was down from the previous weeks 61%. The top price for the category consisted of 195 head of Apr/May ’21 drop Border Leicester/Merino future breeder ewe lambs from Telopea Downs, Victoria, which averaged 50.1kg liveweight and returned $288/head.

Merino ewe hogget numbers held firm on last week, totaling 10,325 head. Prices ranged from $143-$297/head, to average $239 /head – back $30, with clearance rates increasing from last week to total 62%.

-AuctionsPlus