THIS week’s Ouyen livestock sale – with 11,907 head yarded – saw prices surge across the board, with mutton classes rising as much as $35 to do best of all.
Ouyen livestock exchange manager Colin Mole said the sale included 8709 lambs and 3198 mutton and the prices reflected market conditions in other major sales.
Mr Mole said trade lambs and light store lambs were all $10 to $25 dearer this week, while mutton (light and heavy) rose $10 to $35.
He said in the older lambs export types realised $235-$320 (850-1000c/kg) while the trade offering sold between $180 and $230 (850-980c/kg). Lighter store lambs ranged from $48 to $175.
“In the Merino lambs buyers definitely chased the heavier lines, which saw prices between $180 and $291 (770-880c/kg) while the lighter sheep sold as low as $30 to a high of $160 (700-860c/kg),” Mr Mole said.
“While the heavier Merino lambs went higher than mutton, the price rise for both classes was much stronger, with the light older sheep making $58-$168 (520-650c/kg) and the heavier lots hit $180-$260 (550-650c/kg).”
MLA market information analyst Emily Tan told North West Farmer lamb slaughter has surged to 6.86 million head, the second-highest quarterly figure on record.
Ms Tan said that was up 12 per cent from the previous quarter, and slightly above year-ago levels.
“The gross value of sheep and lamb slaughtered in Australia lifted once again across all states to an impressive $1.58 billion,” she explained.
“This is likely due to an increase in throughput and production, however markets remained relatively strong in the first quarter despite the elevated supply.
“Helped in part by Australia recording a steady increase in lamb carcase weights, driven by improvements in genetics, feeding strategies, and evolving market signals.”
Ms Tan said average sheep and lamb carcase weights have risen significantly, influenced by enhanced production systems, the expansion of feedlot finishing, and pricing grids rewarding heavier animals.
Australian carcase weights, for both sheep and lamb, have lifted 19 per cent in the past 20 years, while in New Zealand carcase weights have remained stable for a decade.
“In 2024, New Zealand sheepmeat exports fell 1.5 per cent and this decline is expected to continue this year due to a smaller flock, reduced processing capacity and historically low lamb numbers – creating further export opportunities for Australian producers,” Ms Tan said.
Some of the sale high prices at Ouyen this week included:
BR&C/Nutrien Ag
In the crossbred lambs MUT, Tempty, sold 63 head at an equal sale high $320. Other sales saw McKay Farms sell 32 at $310; Waymel, Ouyen, sold 29 at $293; B & M Morrish, Tiega, sold 21 at $292 and Clarke Bros, Ouyen, had a line of 80 make $284.
With Dorper lambs BA & KL Adams, Broken Hill, sold 57 at $224 and LF & SM Mashford, Broken Hill, had 29 make $205.
For Merino lambs R Harrison, Mildura, sold 21 at $291 and JP Browne, Gama, saw 62 knocked down for $212.
Mutton prices saw Highgate Farms, Pinnaroo, sell 30 for $260; TN GM NJ MJ Wyatt, Murrayville, sell 40 at $240 and Deepdale, Carwarp’s line of 64 sold at $230.
McKean McGregor
In the crossbred lambs P & C Mole, Speed, sold 20 at an equal sale high of $320 and then a line of 63 made $316; Westleigh Pty Ltd, Patchewollock, sold 45 at $309; P & C Mole, Speed, had another line of 40 sell at $305; Westleigh Pty Ltd was back with a further 25 for $285 and LNLS Pastoral, Balranald, had a pen of 50 knocked down for $284.
In Dorper lambs Brymer Pastoral from Broken Hill made 37 for $217; A & C Dawson, Carwarp, had 30 reach $201; MJ & PM Torpey, Turriff, sold 20 at $190; and R & J Galbraith, Padthaway, had 20 make $190.
Merino lambs saw LNLS Pastoral, Balranald, sell 25 for $248; Fitzpatrick Partners, Walpeup, had a line of 105 reach $218, Ridgeway Props, Lameroo, sold 22 at $210 and RM Roads, Meringur, sold a big pen of 178 for $210.
In the mutton catalogue T & V Biggs, Merbein, sold 20 at $230, Tamaleuca Pty Ltd, Ouyen, sold 53 at $228; MV Curtis, Wagan, had 59 make $220 and Walpy Way, Walpeup, fetched $220 for 28.
Elders
Crossbred lambs saw A &A Litchfield, Geranium, sell 20 at $266.
Dorper lambs saw Court Nareen, Carwarp, take $224 for 31 head and WMD & SM Small, Geranium, sold 28 at $214.
In the Merino lambs Flagstaff Farms, Merrinee Nth, sold 88 at $219 while in mutton RS & JK Day, Lameroo, sold 58 for $230, McNiel Bros, Kulkami, saw a pen of 131 go for $180 and RS Dodds, Wargan, sold 11 at $210.
The next scheduled Ouyen sale is Thursday, June 5.
