Prime Lamb & Sheep

Total Yarding: 6737

Numbers were back and the overall quality was mostly plainer with more secondary lambs. Restockers were keen to purchase the plainer lambs and the few pens of prime trade and heavy weights attracted the attention of the smaller group of buyers. Despite the quality the market lifted $3 to $7 across most lambs with the exception of the very light 1 score lambs which sold to cheaper trends.

Restocking lambs to 18kg cwt sold reached $150 and trade weighted lambs returning to the paddock reached $180/head. Prime trade lambs to 24kg cwt sold from $159 to $199/head and averaged from 770c to 810c/kg cwt. Lambs estimated 24 to 26kg sold from $187 to $211/head or 750c to 770c/kg cwt on average. Heavy lambs 26 to 30kg ranged from $204 to $214/head and the few extra heavy weights reached $234/head. Only a few heavy Merinos were offered and they reached $185/head.

Mutton numbers also eased and the quality remains mixed. Light 1 and 2 score ewes sold to a dearer trend of $10/head with the medium and heavy weights were firm. Light ewes $87 to $132/head. Medium weights $118 to $165 and heavy crossbred ewes reached $208/head. Best of the Merino wethers $193/head.

Photo: 44 Merino Lambs sold for $200ph by Duncombe & Co on behalf of M&C Stephenson, Bigga.

Market Report: MLA’s National Livestock Reporting Service. Click here to download the full market report.