This season’s ram sales proved what sheep cockies and abattoirs already knew: there’s a flock rebuild taking shape in the wake of market confidence.
How much? It seems everyone’s got a different opinion and that’s because there’s so many factors; the dry season leading up to recent rain being a key driver.
Wool, of course, has contributed to the excitement – up 10 per cent in the first half of this year on the back of Chinese middle class demand – and rising more than 14 cents in the past week.
Even super fine Merino wool is drawing a devoted market, noted award-winning producer John Ive, Yass, who pointed to Rock-Bank’s increased average sale price, up by one third on last season.
The Chinese dominated commodity ring right now bids best for bales of 19-21 micron, which favours a Merino with more fat and carcase, according to Gavin Peaty, Breadalbane, who this year splashed out on Merino rams at Bundilla and Gunnegalderie to shift his flock towards dual purpose which might take advantage of any future opportunities.
Sheep with carcase attributes play into the hand of the lamb job, which remains strong – coming off incredible highs of late. Sure Merino rams have sold exceptionally well this season, but there’s plenty of demand for first cross and terminal sires, like the White Suffolk that set an on-farm record in NSW at Warburn.
Markets for meat will certainly rise again as Asian tariffs slowly come off, noted processor and exporter Roger Fletcher, Dubbo, who said he had great belief in the future of sheep and that must surely be brighter than the present time which is recording fewer cull ewes heading to the abattoir.
“We’re not killing anything we don’t have to,” Mr Fletcher said. “But we’re here for the long term and we can see a future that will be quite good for sheep. In the meantime we need to rebuild our Merino ewe flock or we’ve got nothing.”