The “roaring drought” and no sale next week pushed numbers of grown sheep up to almost 20,000 at the recent weekly sheep and lamb sale – something most agents haven’t seen at the Dubbo saleyards.
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A total of 40,140 head were yarded at today’s sale, including 19,240 grown sheep.
With no sale next week due to the public holiday, vendors have chosen to sell stock rather than feed them until the next sale in a fortnight’s time according to local agents.
Despite the large numbers, local agent Tim Wiggins from Christie and Hood, said demand was very strong for grown sheep.
“Ninety-five per cent of the demand is coming from processors,” he said.
“There is very little demand coming from restockers.
“People selling ewes are very reluctant sellers but it’s only due to the season that they continue to sell.”
While the wool price is at record highs, Mr Wiggins said they were unlikely to see this reflected in the saleyards.
“There’s very few sheep being sold with the wool on them. Everyone is shearing before they sell, if they can,” Mr Wiggins said.
According to the Meat and Livestock Australia saleyard report, most categories trended dearer at the sale.
Most lamb categories sold dearer, making up to $119/head for light weight lambs and up to $155/head for trade lambs.
Heavy weight lambs were up to $5/head cheaper, selling to $205/head.
Merino lambs sold up to $142 while restocker lambs were firm, selling to $107/head. Hogets sold to $172/head.
Light and medium weight sheep firm, selling to $93 for two-score ewes and up to $195/head for three- and four-score Merino ewes and $182/head for crossbreds.
Heavy weight, full wool Merino wethers sold to $200/head.
