Early reports suggest it was a much stronger yarding of both lambs and sheep this week which saw weaker competition for sheep and lower prices, while finished lambs improved slightly. New season lambs are building in pockets of the south, but still remain behind the seasonal trend in SA and Vic.
The Eastern States Trade Lamb Indicator gained an extra 6¢ over the week to settle at 757¢/kg cwt. In the West Trade lambs ended weaker, down 16¢ to 525¢/kg cwt. Heavy lambs sold dearer, with Wagga contributing 23% of the heavy lamb supplied to NLRS reported saleyard. The National Heavy Lamb Indicator gained 7¢ over the week to 760¢/kg cwt.
Restocker lambs sold into a cheaper market. The national indicator dropped 61¢ to 719¢/kg cwt, which is around the level of early July. The National Mutton Indicator fell 12¢ to end at 524¢/kg cwt, 84¢ below the same time last year. Finished lambs managed to hold strong though.
AuctionsPlus reported that Victorian buyers have dominated online purchasing early in September, following a needed dose of rain. Last week 79% of the total Merino wether lamb offer through AuctionsPlus was secured by Victorian buyers.
For the week ending the 9th of September, 338,704 lambs were processed in the east which was a drop of 7% on the week prior. This was 3% higher than the five year seasonal average level. A lift in sheep slaughter took up some, but not all of the space from the lower lamb kill, lifting 11.5% on the week prior.
Last weeks east coast yarding of lambs was down 8,115 head on the week prior driven by a 6% drop in numbers in NSW. There was a large lift in lamb throughput in South Australia, with an additional 1,698 head yarded compared to the week prior. Both SA and Vic lamb yardings are running behind their usual pace for the spring flush.
The week ahead….
With the national public holiday on Thursday next week, and Grand Final holiday in Victoria on Friday, we have a disrupted sales week ahead. With numbers strong in NSW and lagging behind trend in the south, supply pressure is clearly ahead; just how much it overwhelms is the unanswered question.
In mid-2022 Mecardo looked at the international supply of sheep meat (albeit from a limited number of countries) showing how lower supply had positively correlated
A short week, and closed saleyards on Thursday has culminated in some relief on the supply front as combined lamb and sheep yardings nationally dropped
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Join the Mecardo team for the Commodity Conversations podcast, where we provide short weekly market recaps and longer conversations with guests to discuss the drivers and trends in livestock, grain and fibre markets.
In this report for LiveCorp and MLA, we analysed the historical trends in the demographics of the Australian sheep flock, examining domestic factors that influence farm-level enterprise decision making.
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Spring flush behind but starting to build
The Eastern States Trade Lamb Indicator gained an extra 6¢ over the week to settle at 757¢/kg cwt. In the West Trade lambs ended weaker, down 16¢ to 525¢/kg cwt. Heavy lambs sold dearer, with Wagga contributing 23% of the heavy lamb supplied to NLRS reported saleyard. The National Heavy Lamb Indicator gained 7¢ over the week to 760¢/kg cwt.
Restocker lambs sold into a cheaper market. The national indicator dropped 61¢ to 719¢/kg cwt, which is around the level of early July. The National Mutton Indicator fell 12¢ to end at 524¢/kg cwt, 84¢ below the same time last year. Finished lambs managed to hold strong though.
AuctionsPlus reported that Victorian buyers have dominated online purchasing early in September, following a needed dose of rain. Last week 79% of the total Merino wether lamb offer through AuctionsPlus was secured by Victorian buyers.
For the week ending the 9th of September, 338,704 lambs were processed in the east which was a drop of 7% on the week prior. This was 3% higher than the five year seasonal average level. A lift in sheep slaughter took up some, but not all of the space from the lower lamb kill, lifting 11.5% on the week prior.
Last weeks east coast yarding of lambs was down 8,115 head on the week prior driven by a 6% drop in numbers in NSW. There was a large lift in lamb throughput in South Australia, with an additional 1,698 head yarded compared to the week prior. Both SA and Vic lamb yardings are running behind their usual pace for the spring flush.
The week ahead….
With the national public holiday on Thursday next week, and Grand Final holiday in Victoria on Friday, we have a disrupted sales week ahead. With numbers strong in NSW and lagging behind trend in the south, supply pressure is clearly ahead; just how much it overwhelms is the unanswered question.
Have any questions or comments?
Click on graph to expand
Click on graph to expand
Click on graph to expand
Data sources: MLA, Mecardo
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Have any questions or comments?
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44% drop in supply springs market into action
A short week, and closed saleyards on Thursday has culminated in some relief on the supply front as combined lamb and sheep yardings nationally dropped
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Independent analysis and outlook for wool, livestock and grain markets delivered to you as it’s published
Listen to the podcast
Join the Mecardo team for the Commodity Conversations podcast, where we provide short weekly market recaps and longer conversations with guests to discuss the drivers and trends in livestock, grain and fibre markets.
Research: Analysis of the Australian sheep flock
In this report for LiveCorp and MLA, we analysed the historical trends in the demographics of the Australian sheep flock, examining domestic factors that influence farm-level enterprise decision making.
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We don’t just bring you the most up to date market insights. Find out more about Mecardo’s services including risk management advisory, modelling, benchmarking, research & consultancy.