Agribition sheep sale exhibits high prices

Sheep prices have been reaching record highs ever since the pandemic started.

At Canadian Western Agribition in Regina, which had a large sheep sale, these high prices were on display Nov. 27.

The room was packed with buyers vying to buy lambs, ewes and rams. Lamb prices were often higher than their market price. Some rams sold for more than $1,000. A few ewes reached almost $2,000.

“They’re becoming the new normal, especially on the female side,” said Royce Lodoen of the current sheep prices. “For a show like this, this is where we can find some of the top genetics out of the female.”

Lodoen is the chair of the show and sale at Agribition, and also a farmer with Double L Farms near Fox Valley, Sask. In addition to sheep, Double L Farms also has 70 head of cattle and 2,500 acres of grain land.

Saskatchewan producers are now seeing wool lambs lighter than 80 pounds selling for $3.10 per lb. and lambs 81 to 95 lb. selling for $2.50. Heavier wool lambs from 96 to 109 lb. are selling for $2.40 and those heavier than 110 lb. for $2.30 per lb.

Hair lambs of all weights are selling for $2 per lb, according to the Saskatchewan Sheep Development Board.

At a sale in Grunthal, Man., lambs between 80 and 100 lb. sold for $2.58 per lb. Lambs weighing more than 100 lb. sold for $2.03 per lb., on average.

But lambs were going for higher than that at Agribition. For example, a lamb weighing 100 lb. sold for $425, when usually a lamb of that weight would sell for around $220. Another 101 lb. lamb sold for $375.

A 115 lb. lamb sold for $400, when usually a lamb of that size would go for around $265.

Lodoen said all sheep, especially ewes, are in demand.

“I’ll be honest, my Texel ewe went way better than I ever expected,” Lodoen said.

“People are willing to pay that because it’s not easy. As a producer, it’s a lot of money invested to get where you’re at.”

Lodoen said there are many reasons why sheep prices are rising. Demand is up, and producers are starting to commit to raising sheep more than they used to.

“There’s a higher demand, and it’s starting to become not just a hobby anymore, it’s becoming a business.”

He said producers are starting to bring in different breeds and lines of sheep from across the world.

“They’re now starting to see quality, not just from the producer itself, but we’re bringing in lines from other countries, from original lines in the U.K. or Scotland, New Zealand, Australia — these animals have been perfected in thousands and thousands and thousands of head,” Lodoen said.

“And we’re finally starting to catch up to where we should have been.”

Sandy Hill Charolais from Red Deer won Supreme Ram at the Saskatchewan Sheep Breeders Association Show at Agribition. Furze Farms from Maryfield, Sask., won Supreme Ewe. Double L Farms won premier breeder.

At the sale, seven lots of ram lambs averaged $986. Six market lambs averaged $363. Five commercial ewes averaged at $510. Five lots of commercial pen of two ewe lambs averaged $755 and three lots of commercial pen of three ewe lambs averaged $1,495.

Gross sales totalled $36,035. Lodoen’s Texel ewe was the top seller at $2,000.