Both lamb and sheep yardings were higher last week but it was sheep numbers that took a bounding leap higher. 40,314 sheep passed through yards on the east coast, a 126% lift on throughput the week prior. This was powered by around an extra 10,000 head yarded each in New South Wales and Victoria compared to the extremely low levels of the week earlier.
Lamb yardings were back up to “more normal” levels, lifting 31% on the week prior. Producers in Victoria remained hesitant with minimal change to throughput, however, growing numbers of early new season lambs in NSW appearing in yards drove the increase.
NSW also picked up the slack for lack of processing in Victoria last week. A 25% drop in lamb slaughter in Victoria (Figure 1) was countered by a 27% increase in NSW (Figure 2), which was also higher than the seasonal five-year average for the first time since April (+17%).
Prices for all categories of lamb saw improvements this week. The Eastern States Trade Lamb Indicator rose 38¢ to 789¢/kg cwt which wasn’t enough to regain last weeks 66¢ loss. Heavy and Merino lambs also saw gains of around 30¢ on the week. Another good splash of rain on the east coast provided Restockers with a boost of confidence. Resotcker lambs were up 94¢ in NSW, and 54 in VIC.
Over in the West, Merino lambs were the only type to make improvements on the week. Heavy lambs were the hardest hit, losing 64¢, while the Western Australian Trade Lamb Indicator dropped 43¢ to 721¢/kg cwt.
The National Mutton Indicator edged lower again this week, falling 9¢ over the week to 574¢/kg cwt on Thursday.
Lamb getting back to business
Next week
With some Victorian processors set to reopen next week, we should see some more fuel to what has been lacklustre competition in Victoria. These disruptions have been short-lived with processors and industry responding with speed to these health, safety and supply chain challenges which provides some confidence. While we may see supply rebound in Victoria, there is another wet forecast for most of the southern half of Australia in the week.
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Data sources: MLA, Mecardo
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More rain lifts prices
Widespread rain on the East Coast helped prices continue their upward trajectory, supported by a decrease in throughput as growers’ feed supply concerns further eased.
Lamb turnoff takes precedence
Sheep slaughter for the September 2023 quarter rose year-on-year but dropped in comparison to the previous quarter, the first time this has occurred since 2016.
Lambs are looking up
Rainfall in the east – whether it actually fell or is still forecast to come – continued to support sheep and lamb prices this week,
Future breeders moving off farm?
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) released its quarterly Livestock Products report last week, and while we can get some indications from weekly data, the
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