LIMITED numbers of sucker lambs have hit SA saleyards so far this year, and there has been a mixed bag in terms of quality and returns.
Cold and dry conditions across northern and western parts of the state through winter have slowed feed growth and consequently weight gains. But in other areas such as the South East and parts of the Mallee, some exceptional quality lambs are expected to hit the market next month, on the back of an outstanding season.
Dublin saleyard manager Andrew Lepley said there had only been a few new season lambs coming through the SA Livestock Exchange so far.
“There’s been a few filtering through, but there’s no big numbers yet,” he said.
“(On Tuesday at Dublin) we had young, store lambs out of the Swan Reach/Waikerie area make $97.
“The better end of the lambs made $150, but even with the best of lambs, there hasn’t really been any big weights coming in yet.”
Mr Lepley said he expected larger numbers would be in later than usual this year.
“I don’t think we’re going to see many until the second or third week of September,” he said. “Guys are just trying to get a bit more weight on them, now that we’ve had a bit more rain.”
BM Livestock agent Budgie Schiller, Eudunda, said a lot of store lambs had been coming in to Dublin.
He said this time of year, heavier weights were normally making about $140 to $150. But this year lambs were much smaller, with many selling at about the $105 to $110 mark.
“A lot of lambs have lost a lot of bloom because of the lack of rain and feed. They’re not finishing off,” he said.
“Some guys are having to actually shear them, just because they’ve lost their freshness due of the feed situation.”
Mr Schiller said a good number of lambs were going straight on-the-hooks, especially due to the attractive $6.80/kg contract price offered early on.
Pinkerton Palm Hamlyn & Steen livestock agent Richard Harvie said no sucker lambs had hit the Naracoorte saleyards yet.
“Suckers are still a good three to four weeks off down this way,” he said.
“But, I expect to see some good weights coming out of this area.”
Landmark Murray Bridge livestock agent Kevin Keller said while there were some excellent suckers coming out of the Murraylands and Mallee, seasonal conditions were still patchy, with some areas looking for feed.
Murraylands livestock run hot
THERE were outstanding results at the first Murray Bridge prime lamb sale on Monday, with an average sucker price of $140 close to last year’s top price of $145.
The yarding of 4100 lambs sold to a top of $166, $21 up on last year’s top.
Major buyers at Murray Bridge were Thomas Foods International, including the top price pen, paying up to $6.18 a kilogram.
TFI national small stock manager Paul Leonard said he was surprised by how much weight was in the lambs yarded at Murray Bridge.
“There’s no doubt lambs coming out of the upper South East and Mallee are very good, and it looks like the lambs that will be coming out of the South East will be exceptional,” he said.
The Mount Pleasant market also yarded its first pens of less than 100 sucker lambs on Thursday last week, selling to $97.
Landmark Mount Pleasant livestock agent David Schultz said he expected greater numbers at the next sale on Thursday, August 24.