SA weekly Lambs summary
10/10/2008
Young lamb numbers retreat A much smaller yarding of young lambs at the SA LE greeted buyers after last week’s lower prices. Naracoorte’s numbers increased, but only slightly, and is probably quite a few less than at this time last year when weather conditions were similar. It will be interesting to see if Naracoorte’s numbers do rise above the 20,000 head mark, with many producers and agents stating that there are not that many lambs around, and quite a large number have already been sold to both supermarkets at the dearer direct prices that were around a month ago. There are also other producers who have sold their light lambs or light twin lambs, and are keeping the heavier ones with a perceived shortage on the horizon. Quality was quite good at the SA LE and attracted strong competition from the usual buyers at generally dearer levels even though supermarket input was non existent. Feeder and restocker orders from the South East and Yorke Peninsula sourced a large percentage of crossbred lambs weighing less than 16kg cwt. Even a plentiful supply of light new seasons Merino lambs attracted strong feeder and restocker activity at rates $6/head more. Naracoorte lamb producers would have been a bit more pleased than a fortnight ago as strong trade, supermarket and processor competition lifted prices to dearer levels on a much improved quality yarding of trade and heavy lambs. Feeder and restocker numbers were boosted by additional orders from the Mid North, Mt. Gambier and Beullah (Vic), as they sourced most lightweights. Prices generally dearer It was a week of generally dearer prices which was mainly due to the lower numbers offered, and also the addition of a processor and feeder order at Naracoorte. Store and light young lambs sold to feeder, restocker and processor competition at rates varying from $1 to $9 dearer, and $1 to $7/head cheaper on a mixture of crossbreds and Merinos. Trade weights were $1 to $8/head dearer with only a few sales showing a cheaper trend where plain quality and some seeds were a concern. This left most carcase weight prices ranging between 345¢ and 400¢/kg for crossbreds, with only a couple of pens of Merinos offered statewide. Heavy lamb sales were given a boost by the strong competition and were $1 to $10/head dearer, as carcase weight prices ranged mainly between 355¢ and 420¢, and averaged close to 400¢/kg. After the battering sheep prices were given last week, smaller numbers that dropped 50% tended to sell at dearer levels as most ewes sold between 135¢ and 185¢, with Merino wethers averaging 180¢/kg cwt. It will be very interesting to see what numbers turn up at Naracoorte on Friday after last weeks prices fell $14 to $24/head.
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