Prime Sheep and Lamb
Lamb numbers eased and the quality was mixed. There were a few new season lambs that included a run of store lambs. There also was a very good run of trade and heavy lambs with a short jacket but most of the yarding was lambs with longer dry skins or secondary lambs. The market sold to stronger trends with the better lambs up $8 to $10 and long skins were firm to $4 dearer. The light and secondary trades gained $4 to $5/head.
The run of store new season lambs sold from $81 to $132/head and the best of the trade weights reached $218/head or 855c/kg.
Old 2 score processing lambs to 18kg ranged from $76 to $138/head. The trade weights 20 to 24kg ranged from $124 to $196/head with the better end averaging 760c to 820c/kg cwt. Heavy weights ranged from $170 to $232 and extra heavy lambs reached $235/head and ranged from 750c to 815c/kg. Trade Merinos reached $189/head.
Mutton numbers eased and the quality was only fair. Prices were firm to $6 dearer. Medium weight ewes sold from $63 to $113 and heavy crossbreds reached $156/head. The best for Merino was $138/head and most sold from 380c to 420c/kg.
Graeme Richard, Market Reporter