MLA’s National Livestock Reporting Service has released two new pricing indicators – the national feeder heifer indicator, and the online sheep indicator.
Their release will broaden MLA’s indicator offering, filling coverage gaps across sales channels and commodities.
Both indicators have been backdated with over two decades of data, enabling immediate long-range analysis.
The national feeder heifer indicator will provide saleyard pricing and supply coverage of heifers above 200kg purchased by lot feeders. Heifers entering feedlots tend to perform best on short-fed programs focused on consistency in weight gain and quality.
Trends in the supply of heifers into feedlots will be available through the analysis of long-term data.
Price dynamics are a significant driver of feedlots purchasing more heifers.
The online sheep indicator will be MLA’s first restocker/breeder sheep indicator using data from the online marketplace.
The indicator covers ewes and wethers of all weights, broken down by region and breed.
Restocker sheep throughput is limited in saleyards, so by online coverage, MLA will be able to provide insights into the supply and pricing trends of breeder sheep.
While current throughput in this indicator is relatively small, it will thrive when the sheep sector exits the current liquidation phase and enters a strong, long rebuild.
