Agriculture
17 February, 2024
Market day: buyers and sellers keep optimism
GRAZIERS across the Loddon are reducing their numbers of breeding ewe and lamb numbers. Many have sent ewes and lambs to Bendigo saleyards as they planned to manage the predicted super El Nino. Farmers like Bridgewater’s Gary Collins now doubt the...
GRAZIERS across the Loddon are reducing their numbers of breeding ewe and lamb numbers.
Many have sent ewes and lambs to Bendigo saleyards as they planned to manage the predicted super El Nino.
Farmers like Bridgewater’s Gary Collins now doubt the severity of the Bureau of Meteorology forecast.
He was among sellers at Bendigo on Monday, sendng the last of his old lambs off to market.
“Prices are back a bit on where they were ... about $20,” he said. In the current climate I’m reasonably happy with how they have sold. They were talking about us getting less.”
Gary averaged $195 for just under a hundred head and plans to sell the last of his ewe lambs through online selling platforms.
His yarding was part of the 5500-lamb offering by Inglewood’s FP Nevins and Co on Monday.
“That’s one of the biggest we have had for some time,” said Chris Nevins, who is also president of the Bendigo Stock Agents’ Association. “The demand just wasn’t there today.”
Mr Nevins said the big offering through the Inglewood company showed there was stock to sell. “It’s just a price thing.”
He said some farmers still had lambs to sell but says they are holding off.
While some of the big buyers were absent on Monday, Bridgewater North farmer Ray Collins was among bidders.
He picked up 100 Merino lambs for an average of $26.
“If I can’t make something out of them I’ll be doing something wrong,” he said. “There’s still plenty of feed around ... still plenty of green in the dry grass.”
“Hopefully, there’s enough to see us through winter.”
Gary Collins said he would stick with planning on flock numbers “even if the bureau’’s forecast has not eventuated”.
“The BoM has a lot to answer for in the rural sector.
“We rely on them to be reasonably accurate but they can’t tell what next week will be let alone what the weather will be in six month’s time.
“I’ll wait six months and start buying more breeding rams again,” he said.
Mr Collins will then cross the ewes with border Leicesters to build his numbers.
Federal Government agency ABARES has forecast average saleyard prices for lambs and sheep are forecast to fall in 2023–2024 as drier seasonal conditions result in lower restocking demand and increased turn-off rates.
It also says a large supply of lambs is expected after several years of robust flock growth and strong lambing rates while supply of sheep available for slaughter is expected to increase following several years of flock growth.
But Gary Collins remains optimis6ic for the breeding future and says he will be back buying this year.