Young lamb yardings at saleyards covered by the National Livestock Reporting Service are 13pc higher so far this spring compared to last year.
But Meat and Livestock Australia reports that this year's spike – occurring in the second last week of October – occurred slightly later than 2007.
It says that in 2006, drought and unfavorable seasonal conditions saw producers offload large numbers of young lambs at physical markets.
Consequently, due to the large turnoff, there were fewer ewes joined in 2006-07 and young lamb yardings in spring 2007 tapered off after the second week in
October.
MLA says the later spike in young lamb yardings this spring follows the later joining of ewes in 2007-08.
Furthermore, prolonged strong lamb prices between June and September this year reduced the pressure for producers to offload lambs earlier.
Though lamb prices have retreated over the past several weeks due to the influx of new season lambs, they remain well up on year ago levels.
The national trade lamb indicator on Thursday afternoon was 46¢ above the same time last year, at 342¢/kg (carcase weight).
Email a friend