AUSTRALIA-SA weekly sheep and lamb summary
24/04/2009
Larger Yardings
Lamb numbers increased at SA LE and also at Naracoorte; however, Mt. Gambier’s numbers were reduced. With the increased numbers at Naracoorte and SA LE it allowed most buyers to lower their rates over most categories.
SA LE increased supply featured very mixed quality runs that sold to the usual buyers. Feeder orders were more subdued on older lambs, while late 2008 drop crossbreds and Merinos were high on their priority lists at generally dearer levels. With one supermarket chain operating on trade weights for the first time in a month or so, prices were least affected as they provided solid competition. There were larger numbers of heavyweight supplementary fed lambs offered and prices tended to retreat from their recent improved levels.
This should make direct works prices over the next few weeks quite interesting to witness as they also retreat. However this may just be another attempt to draw more lambs out of the paddock direct at the higher prices being offered at the moment.
Naracoorte’s small yarding featured quite mixed quality runs that included plain lightweights, fresh trade lambs and most heavyweights in 5 score condition. The usual small numbers of buyers were operating, with most categories attracting lower rates that seemed to be following an attempt by buyers at interstate markets to reel in recent dearer prices.
Mt. Gambier’s yarding sold at fluctuating levels with some interesting drafting in early runs leading to prices falling, before recovering in later runs, where quality was also fresher.
Fluctuating Trends
Most values experienced a mixed trend. Most store and light lambs finished with feeder and restocker orders mainly between $34 and $80 for crossbreds, with the Merinos from $29 to $65/head. Trade weights attracted a mixture of buying orders, although feeders and restockers were a little more circumspect where age could be a problem. Most crossbred trade weights sold from $70 to $105/head as carcase weight prices ranged mostly between 385ยข to 450ยข/kg.
Heavy lambs were mostly 4 and 5 scores with many having been supplementary fed. Due to the weaker trend at SA LE, most sales were unchanged to $6 cheaper and mainly between $100 and $136/head, or from 415ยข to 455ยข/kg cwt.
Larger numbers of sheep were yarded. SA and Victorian processor competition was steady on runs of mainly 2 to 5 score Merino and crossbred ewes, with some restocker activity on pregnant Merino ewes at Naracoorte. Most sales ranged from unchanged to $5 cheaper, with 2 score medium weights $2 to $4/head dearer. This left the majority of carcase weight prices ranging between 180ยข and 225ยข/kg for ewes, and averaging 225ยข/kg for wethers.