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WA weekly sheep summary
09 July 2015
Lambs
Limited rain was recorded this week, with mixed conditions predicted for the inland areas going forward. Direct to works deliveries of lambs continue to satisfy most of the major processors requirements, with scheduled prices exceeding those being paid at sales. Scheduled maintenance shutdowns are continuing, with some facilities recommencing processing with reduced throughput. Both recorded sales saw marginally larger supplies, with secondary and store lamb supplies dominating. Increased numbers of Merino lambs were penned, with most of these lighter weight, store conditioned drafts. Prime trade and heavy lamb numbers were limited. Most buyers were operating this week, which saw a slight improvement in competition, particularly restocking activity on the better framed store lamb drafts. Prices for prime trade lambs lifted at Muchea, along with improved secondary and Merino draft prices.
Lighter lambs suitable for processors, air freight markets and feeders were dearer, at $60 to $100/head. Light and store lambs to restockers, which included solid supplies of Merinos, sold between $30 and $80/head and were slightly dearer. Trade lambs increased by close to $5/head and sold between $85 and $119/head, to be close to 505¢, while with the Merino and store conditioned drafts priced between 470¢ and 490¢/kg cwt.
Mutton
Ewe and wether supplies remained similar week-on-week. Ewe mutton prices continued to lift, largely due to supply pressures. Heavier 3 and 4 score ewes made from $75 to $110/head to average close to 320¢/kg cwt. The 2 score ewes to processor orders sold between $50 and $80, also dearer on the previous sale, while light ewes made from $30 to $67/head. Restocker activity remained firm on suitable younger drafts with prices from $40 to $80/head. Wether and ram prices remained solid, with selective live export competition and similar processor activity. Export weight wether drafts made $80 to $114/head. Lighter conditioned wethers were $5 dearer, with most sales between $55 and $90/head. Ram lambs sold to $92, with live exporters and feeders paying $30 to $88/head on suitable drafts. Older drafts to processors made $30 to $70/head.
Note: All yardings and prices referenced from MLA’s National Livestock Reporting Service (NLRS) reported saleyards.
