Prices for quality trade and heavy lambs were maintained at around 600c/kg cwt in major saleyards mid-week, though buyers were able to pay less where higher numbers of plainer lambs were offered.

At Wagga on Thursday, in a much bigger yarding than last week, prices for medium and heavy trade weights eased $8-$10 on average, reflecting the plainer quality, but rates for short-skinned runs held firm.

This contrasted with firm to dearer prices for slaughter lambs in major Victorian centres where medium and heavy trade, and export-weight lambs made 570-610c/kg cwt. SA restocker interest at Hamilton on Wednesday lifted light 1 and 2 score lambs $5-$7 dearer to average 620c/kg cwt.

Prices for quality mutton sheep held firm to dearer in most saleyards, though the National Livestock Reporting Service’s national and Eastern States Daily Indicators lost six cents to close on 372c/kg after the close of Thursday’s sales.

NLRS lamb indicators fall

The NLRS quoted its ESDIs for lambs as: restocker 542c/kg, down 21 cents; Merino 529c/kg, down 7c; light 538c/kg, down 14c; trade 576c/kg, down 6c; heavy 584c/kg, down 3c. The national trade lambs indicator fell 7 cents to 576c/kg and the heavy lamb indice is down 3 cents to 585c/kg.

Carcoar’s heavy lambs $5 dearer

In NSW at Carcoar’s Central Tablelands Livestock Exchange, the agents yarded 10,600 lambs, 2650 more than last week, and 2500 sheep, 900 fewer.

The NLRS said it was a good quality yarding with a good selection of heavy weight lambs, along with fair numbers of trade weights. Light weight lambs were $5 dearer, with the 12-18kg cwt 2 scores selling from $50-$100. Restocker lambs were also dearer, selling from $47-$131. Trade lambs were firm to $3 cheaper, with the 18-2kg 3 scores selling from $95-$141 to average 580c/kg cwt. Heavy weight lambs were $5 dearer, with the over 22kg 4 scores selling from $130-$185 to also average 580c/kg.

It was a plainer quality yarding of mutton, with most grades $4 cheaper. The better 3 and 4 score Merino ewes sold from $84-$104, while the crossbred ewes sold to $125. The 3 and 4 score Merino wethers sold from $74-$104.

Plainer Wagga lamb yarding sells cheaper

At the Wagga saleyards on Thursday, the agents yarded 37,100 lambs, 9100 more than last week, and 8800 sheep, 200 more.

The NLRS said lamb quality fell with a greater number of light weights and secondary lambs offered. Heavy weights were well-supplied along with large runs of light Merinos. Ideal short skinned trade weights were limited but sold strongly. All the usual buyers were operating in a slightly cheaper market.

Restocking lambs sold mostly from $74-$120. The medium and heavy trade weights eased $8- $10 on average and this reflected the plainer quality. The short-skinned runs sold to firm prices. Medium and heavy trades sold from $112-$147 to average around 570c/kg cwt, with the better-finished lines 600c/kg and better. Heavy lambs eased $3-$4 and ranged from $135-$172, to average 590c/kg. Extra heavy weights reached $205, or 560-580c/kg. Light Merino lambs sold to processors from $56-$88 and the better finished trade weights made $98-$123.

Mutton quality varied. Well-covered heavy sheep were well-supplied and sold strongly. Prices lifted $4-$8 on the medium and heavy weights with medium weight ewes made from $68-$106. Heavy Merinos sold from $105-$130 and crossbreds made from $100-$136. Most averaged 370-410c/kg cwt.

Hamilton’s medium and heavy lambs lift $3-$7

In Victoria at the Hamilton saleyards on Wednesday, the agents yarded 5169 lambs, 879 fewer than last week and 3315 sheep, 800 less.

The NLRS said lamb quality was plainer overall. The regular buyers attended, plus one domestic processor. Restocker activity was stronger with some South Australian agents re-entering the market for the first time in a number of weeks and this, combined with more urgency from a local processor to obtain numbers, lifted light 1 and 2 score lambs $5-$7 dearer to average 620c/kg cwt. Competition also remained spirited for the medium trade and heavy trade lambs, 3 and 4 scores, as they were firm to $3-$7 dearer, making from $120-$151 in a fluctuating stronger sale to average 610c/kg. Heavier trade and export lambs, 4 and 5 scores, sold from $153-$200, making from 580-600c/kg cwt.

The usual mutton buyers operated in a dearer market, with light 1 and 2 scores $2-$4 dearer and selling from $52-$76. Medium trade 2 and 3 score mutton was $4-$6 dearer, selling from $76-$94 and averaging 375c/kg cwt. Heavy crossbred 4 score sheep sold from $100-$125 at around 385c/kg. The best Merino wethers 3 and 4 score sold from $105-$128, averaging from 410-435c/kg. The better rams sold from $75-$88 and hoggets made up to $122.

Horsham lambs $2-$5 dearer

At the Horsham saleyards on Wednesday, the agents yarded 5265 lambs, 351 fewer than last week, and 1032 sheep, 432 less.

The NLRS said lamb quality was again good, with most lambs selling to a dearer trend to be $2-$5 dearer than last week. The usual buyers group attended, but not all operated fully. Restockers were quiet, but paid to $84 for lambs, to $146 for first cross ewe lambs and to $93 for Merino wethers.

Light weight 1 and 2 score lambs sold from $94-$104. Light trade 2 and 3 score lambs sold from $97-$125. Trade weight 3 and 4 score lambs sold from $121-$150 and ranged from 550-610c/kg cwt to average around 580c/kg. Heavy 3 and 4 score lambs sold from $150-$178, and averaged around 570c/kg. Extra heavy export lambs sold from $180-$192. Merino lambs sold from $88 to $113.50/head.

The smaller sheep offering sold to steady competition to be firm to a few dollars easier in places. Light weight 1 and 2 score sheep sold from $71-$76. Medium weight 2 and 3 score sheep sold from $64-$110 and ranged from 330-410c/kg, with the Merino’s averaging around 380c/kg cwt. Heavy 3 to 5 score sheep sold from $85-$129.50, with heavy Merino wethers selling from $100-$128. Rams of all weights sold from $58-$90.

Mt Gambier lamb prices firm

In SA at the Mt Gambier saleyards on Wednesday, the agents yarded 1294 lambs, 359 fewer than last week, and 287 sheep, 145 more.

The NLRS said the usual trade and processor buyers were active, along with a small number of restocker orders. Prices were generally firm across the market. Light weight lambs to the trade ranged from $96-$106, with light weight trade 2 and 3 score types ranging from $103-$113 to be firm in price. The small number of lambs purchased by restockers ranged from $73-$102. Trade weight 3 score lambs ranged from $106-$122, back $4, to average 540c/kg cwt. Heavy 4 score lambs sold firm from $128 to mainly $146, with one isolated sale at $165.

Light weight ewes sold to $43, with medium weights ranging from $55-$74. Heavy ewes ranged from $89-$96 and rams sold to $60.

Katanning competition solid

In WA at the Katanning saleyards on Wednesday, the agents yarded 10,000 lambs, 1557 more than last week, and 7313 sheep, 687 fewer.

The NLRS said mixed quality yarding was dominated by young wethers. Competition was solid from a full field of buyers and prices rose. Light store lambs sold from $15-$89 to average $63. Air freight lambs sold from $65-$115 to average $90. Crossbred lambs weighing 18-22kg cwt remained firm, making from $80-$123, while 18-22kg Merino lambs sold from $65-$109, to average $101, up $5. Merino lambs to restockers sold from $40-$79. Heavy lambs over 22kg were up again and returned $118-$148.

Mutton prices were strong, with woolly ewes selling extremely well. The light ewes made from $30-$67. The 2 score processor mutton made $35-$82 and the better 3 score mutton returned $50-$97. Restockers paid from $77-$87. Wether prices were up, with the lightweight Merinos selling from $56-$110. Export wethers sold from $85-$117. Processor wethers made from $60-$127, with restockers and feeders paying from $35-$110. Rams remained firm, with export rams making $60-$80. Processor rams sold for $5-$30 and ram lambs sold up to $120.

Sources: MLA, NLRS, AuctionsPlus.