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Evaluate selling options early and reassess if conditions change.
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Assess the liveweight, carcase weight and fat score specifications of potential markets.
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Choose the most profitable selling method to manage risk of lower-than-budget prices.
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Develop alliances along the entire lamb and sheepmeat supply chain. |
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Key decisions, critical actions and benchmarks
When determining the best method of selling sheep and lambs, it is essential to:
- Decide on the target market(s) at ram selection. Base selections on the genetic potential of your dam/sire mix and on the capability of pastures or intended feeding system to produce to specifications.
- Reassess market options at lamb marking (6–8 weeks). Weigh a 10% sample to assess liveweight, plan growth rate using tool 3.1 and estimate the sale date for a range of growth rates.
- Assess the benefits of weaning at 14 weeks of age and growing-on versus selling the lambs straight off their mothers.
- After weaning, segregate lambs into at least two (preferably three) liveweight groups and manage the grazing according to planned growth rates.
- If lambs need supplementary feeding, use grain or pellets. Introduce lambs onto food supplements before weaning. Feeding ewes and lambs for 3–7 days at 100g grain/head/day is usually sufficient for ‘imprint’ feeding.
- Consider the economics of including a finishing phase using fodder crops, supplementary or lot feeding (procedure 3.1). When pasture forage is the preferred system, consider targeting the lightweight domestic or the feeder lamb market.
- Determine the specifications of the lambs for sale by weighing and fat score assessment and calculate the carcase weight (figure 3.3 in procedure 3.2).
- Use market research and advice to assess the value of lambs and compare selling methods to select the best option.
- Determine whether the price to be paid when selling ‘over the hooks’ is equivalent to the estimated price for paddock sales or saleyard selling.
- Form close alliances along the sheep and lamb supply chain to encourage feedback on each sale lot so you can improve the efficiency of your production system and meet market specifications.
Signposts  |
Read Comparing lamb marketing methods: a NSW DPI Agfact describing the factors that contribute to lamb value. Visit: http://www.agric.nsw.gov.au/reader/sheepmeat
‘Is it fit to load? A national guide to the selection of animals fit to transport’. Order from MLA by:
Attend
The MLA EDGEnetwork® program is coordinated nationally and has a range of courses to assist sheep producers. Contact can be made via:
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Auction sales: stock are sold by open cry action on either a dollars per head basis or, if stock are weighed, on a cents/kg liveweight basis. Ownership is transferred at point of sale.