SOUTH East lamb producers have been far from fleeced this season with record high prices hitting markets across the region.
Earlier this month, the South Australian lamb price record tumbled with Hynam’s Peter and Ruth Gericke’s lambs selling at $295.50 a head at the Naracoorte Regional Livestock Exchange.
This record was then overtaken at the SA Livestock Exchange in Dublin with Paskeville’s Bruce Daniel selling 76 Merino-White Suffolk June-drop lambs at $300 a head.
But on Tuesday the Gericke’s came back strong, going one better at $301 with 83 June-drop second-cross lambs selling to JBS Bordertown.
Unfortunately the SA record was again broken in Dublin, although Mr Gericke is not too fussed about the top price honours.
He said the recent price surge has come as quite a shock to producers, with almost identical animals selling for substantially less earlier this season.
“We were selling almost the exact same lambs for less than $200 not too long ago, so this is quite a difference,” he said.
“It is quite an exciting time for us at the moment, breaking records is just an added bonus.”
Landmark Naracoorte stock agent Richard Jennings said he was pleased prices have increased over the past month, after “tough times” for producers earlier in the year.
“It is a very rewarding time to be a lamb producer,” Mr Jennings said.
“There were a lot of light lambs sold through the spring that went back to the paddock which some people may not have been aware of.
“This meant they came back through the market in January, February and March and we saw a price reduction.
“People have kept their nerve and held on through the tougher period and they are now being rewarded.”
Auctioning off the record breaking lambs this week, Mr Jennings said it was one of the best parts of his job.
“You can almost see the vendors’ smiles over the phone when they are getting these prices, so it is a pretty special time,” he said.
“This allows them to build infrastructure at their properties, whether it be a new yard, a new shed, whatever they need to do.
“People were expecting an increase but I do not think anyone expected this – if someone had told you they would reach $10/kg you would not believe it for a second, but here we are.”
Although the price hike is positive at the moment, Mr Jennings warned there would be a decrease in the future.
“At the moment, lambs – other livestock too – are fairly short across the country so it’s obviously all due to supply and demand,” he said.
“With a smaller supply and higher demand we are seeing the record breaking numbers.
“At some stage there will have to be a correction as these kinds of numbers are not sustainable long-term.
“It is absolutely fantastic to see these kind of prices and great to get this kind of money now but there will be a dip again at some point and there has to be.”
