LAMB prices have surged across the country recently, driven by export demand and a protein deficit in the US, and the latest Ouyen sale has reflected that demand.
Its offering of 10,712 head – with 7595 lambs – saw both heavy and trade lambs maintaining recent high prices with the BR&C/Nutrien Ag recording the sale high of $280 for a line of 84 crossbreds from M Pohlner, Kiamal.
MLA reports the heavy lamb and trade lamb indicators have increased by 66 per cent and 69 per cent, with the restocker lamb indicator soaring 105 per cent.
The lamb market has experienced a meteoric price rise over the past month, nearing 900¢/kg carcase weight (cwt), and despite increased sheep numbers and record production levels, prices continue to rise in 2024.
The the Elders’ Ouyen catalogue, crossbred lambs saw the following prices:
Andersons of Bronzewing, Bronzewing, 72 @ $270; KP & PI & MF & RA Kelly, Werrimull, 20 @ $245; BJ & MK Young, Lameroo, 76 @ $240; Andersons of Bronzewing, Bronzewing, 71 @ $238; S & M Rudd, Meringur, 15 @ $233 and KP & PI & MF & RA Kelly, Werrimull, 34 @ $230
For Dorper lambs results were Big Sky Pastoral, Stawell, 25 @ $215; Calindary Props, Broken Hill, 41 @ $198 and WMD & SM Small, Lameroo, 56 @ $195 while the best of the Merino lambs was RM & S Pocock, Lameroo, with 24 @ $253.
In the mutton sale the pick of the catalogue saw AJ & JR Blore, Broken Hill, sell 20 @ $125; SJ & NA Smyth, Yunta, 100 @ $104; O’Shannessy Farms, Timberoo Sth, 131 @ $102 and Calindary Props, Broken Hill, 44 @ $100.
For BR&C/Nutrien Ag, apart from the sale high pen, other strong crossbred sales were G & R Vine, Ouyen, 32 @ $262; A & F Hulland, Patchewollock, 121 @ $261; J & A Frankel, Patchewollock, 34 @ $257 and N & R Hulland, Patchewollock, 174 @ $254.
In the Dorpers, Harrison & Son, Broken Hill, saw 45 head realise $228, and LF & SM Mashford, Broken Hill, 71 @ $218.
For Merino lambs M.U.T, Tempy, had a big line of 116 knocked down at $232 while J & M Shean, Tempy, sold 49 @ $220.
In the mutton M Pohlner, Kiamal, sold 166 @ $138 and Lyndon Park Pastoral, Boinka, 47 @ $136.
The next scheduled Ouyen sale will be on Thursday.
