NEW season and old lamb prices surged mid-week as wet weather limited saleyard supplies across New South Wales.

Trade lamb prices lifted $7-$12 in weekly sales and were up to $20 dearer than two weeks ago at Cootamundra.

Across NSW and Victoria, any quality news season trade and heavy lambs were snapped up for 540-691c/kg, with all lines in these weight ranges at Cootamundra making better than 619c/kg, and all Wagga’s heavy young lambs exceeded 600c/kg.

At Cootamundra on Wednesday, the 18.1-22kg new season lambs with $12-$13 skins made $142-$153.40, or 619-680c/kg, and the 22.1-24kg lines with $12 skins sold from $160-$165, or 638-644c/kg.

At Carcoar, the 16.1-18kg young lambs with $2-$10 skins made $112-$113, or 618-647c/kg, and the trade weights with $10-411 skins ranged from $115-$144, or 547-633c/kg.

At Wagga on Thursday, the 12.1-18 new season lambs with $1-412 skins sold from $81.20-$129, or 537-662c/kg, and the 18.1-22kg lines with $2-$13 skins made $119-$164, or 540-691c/kg. The 22.1-26kg lines with $8-$13 skins made $155.60-$176, or 600-683c/kg, and the 26.1-30kg lines with $12-$13 skins sold from $176-$185, or 604-622c/kg.

At Horsham on Wednesday, the 12.1-18kg new season lambs with $5-$8 skins sold from $84-$120, or 513-628c/kg. The 18.1-22kg lines with $7-$10 skins made $111-$145, or 562-618c/kg, and the 22.1-26kg lambs with $9-$11 skins ranged from $142-$164, or 575-617c/kg.

At Ouyen, crossbred new season lambs of export weight sold from $160-$186, or 590-630c/kg, and trade weights made $125-$166, or 600-650c/kg.

At Katanning, the 12.1-18kg young lambs with $3 skins made $75-$115, or 480-622c/kg, and the 18.1-24kg lambs with skins values up to $3 sold from $105-$128, or 510-595c/kg.

Supply break pushes NLRS indicators up

The break in supplies pushed all National Livestock Reporting Services national and Eastern States Daily Indicators for lamb and mutton up, with the slaughter lamb indices moving 9-16 cents.

After Thursday’s saleyard sales, the ESDIs for lamb were: restocker 573c/kg, up 2 cents; Merino 523c/kg, up 16 cents; light 545c/kg, up 14c; trade 594c/kg, up 14c; heavy 596c/kg, up 9c. The national trade lamb indicator lifted 16 cents to 594c/kg and the heavy lamb indice rose 10 cents to 596c/kg.

The ESDI for mutton is up 4 cents to 380c/kg and the national indice rose 5 cents to 375c/kg.

Cootamundra suckers lift $20

In New South Wales at the Cootamundra saleyards on Wednesday, the agents yarded 3347 lambs, 2953 fewer than the last sale two weeks ago, and 1400 sheep, 900 less.

The NLRS said 40-50mm falls of rain in the supply area halved numbers and affected the quality. Nearly 500 new season lambs were offered, along with a small run of old trade weights and good numbers of plainer light Merinos. Most of the usual buyers operated in a dearer market.

New season lambs were up $20 on the last sale a fortnight ago. The medium and heavy trade weights ranged from $142-$153, with heavy weights reaching $165. Most ranged from 640-660c/kg cwt.

Most of the old lambs sold $6-$14 stronger, with medium and heavy old trade weights making $100-$148. Heavy weights sold from $132-$170 and extra heavy lambs reached $184. Carcase prices ranged from 570-600c/kg. Light 2 score Merinos sold from $69-$96, lifting $5.

Sheep quality was mixed. Prices were firm to slightly dearer. Medium weights sold from $80-$124 and heavy weights reached $130. Most ranged from 380-430c/kg cwt.

Carcoar’s trade lambs lift $7-$12

At the Central Tablelands Livestock Exchange, Carcoar, on Wednesday, the agents yarded 3550 lambs, 2140 fewer than last week, and 1575 sheep, 625 less.

The NLRS said numbers were back considerably after excellent falls of rain over the past few days. There were a few pens of trade weight new season lambs yarded along with odd pens of well-finished old lambs. No extra heavy weights were penned.

Lightweight lambs were $10 dearer, with the 12-18kg 2 scores selling from $88-$112. Trade lambs were $7-$12 dearer, with new season lines making $112-$144, to average 622c/kg cwt, and old lambs selling from $109-$142. Heavy weight lambs were $3 dearer, with the over 22kg 4 scores selling from $136-$170. Hoggets sold to $125.

It was a plain quality yarding of mutton, of mainly store conditioned ewes and wethers. All grades were dearer, with 2 score ewes selling to restockers at $34-$56. The 3 and 4 score Merino ewes sold to processors for $72-$100 and crossbreds made to $125. The 2 score longer wool wethers sold to restockers for $60-$108.

Wagga’s new season lambs lift $7-$10

At the Wagga saleyards on Thursday, the agents yarded 18,000 lambs, 10,000 fewer than last week, and 7000 sheep, 850 less.

The NLRS said the extremely wet conditions resulted in a significant drop in numbers, with producers unable to load trucks. The quality of the offering was very good with just over 10,000 new season lambs penned. Old lamb numbers declined and quality was quite mixed, with a limited portion well finished. A full turn-out of domestic and export buyers operated.

New season lambs ignited the bidding, with prices lifting $7-$10. Major domestic processors were the market drivers, competing for the bulk of young lambs weighing above 21kg cwt. The best of the 20-22kg lambs made from $138-$164 to average 649c/kg cwt. Buyers this week operated on skin values of $10-$12.

Restocking buyers entered the market for well-bred new season lambs and the lighter portion sold from $81-$88.

Old trade lamb quality varied greatly and the better finished lambs weighing 21-24kg sold from $126-$164, with heavy trade lambs averaging 646c/kg cwt. There was a mixed selection of heavy and extra heavy lambs offered and they sold to the regular buyers. Lambs weighing 24-26kg sold up to $7 dearer, while extra heavy lambs sold from $162-$183, averaging 595c/kg.

Merino lambs were well-supplied and quality varied greatly through each category. The better finished trade Merino lambs sold $7-$10 higher at $117-$145.60.

The much plainer quality sheep yarding included all weights and grades. A fair percentage of ewes and wethers were lighter weights, with little skin value. Light sheep sold $8 dearer at $54-$78. Merino trade sheep made from $89-$114. Heavy ewes were keenly contested and prices jumped $8-$10 to 377-395c/kg cwt.

Horsham’s light trade lambs lift $3-$5

In Victoria at the Horsham saleyards on Wednesday, the agents yarded 4653 lambs, 2044 more than last week, and 4815 sheep, 586 more.

The NLRS said agents offered 3000 new season young lambs. Most of the regular buyers operated keenly. The young lambs presented in average to good condition, but are lacking a little finish.

Lighter trade weight lambs sold $3-$5 up on last week and the heavier trade weights sold on quality, from firm to a few dollars easier. Old lambs sold mostly around last week’s levels. Restockers paid to $59 for light lambs.

Light weight 1 and 2 score young lambs sold from $77-$94. Light trade 2 and 3 score young lambs made $102-$128, and averaged around 590c/kg cwt. Trade weight 3 and 4 score young lambs sold from $130-$148, or 570-620c/kg to average around 590c/kg. Heavier weights made $158-$164, or around 610c/kg. Merino lambs sold from $80-$105 and heavy hoggets sold to $106.

The sheep offering included all weights and grades, with Merino sheep selling to strong competition. Restockers paid to $101 for shorn Dohne ewes. Heavy Merino wethers sold to $106.50.

Lighter sheep sold to strong demand to be in places to $8 up on last week. Light weight 1 and 2 score sheep sold from $55.50-$84.50 with very light 1 scores made $41-$56. Medium weight 2 and 3 score sheep sold from $68-$101.50, or 340-440c/kg cwt, with Merino mutton averaging around 400c/kg. Heavy 3 to 5 score sheep sold from $85-$118.50. Heavy Merino wethers made $95-$106.50 and medium weights sold from $86-$88. Heavy rams sold to $99.

Hamilton’s medium and heavy lambs hold firm

At the Hamilton saleyards on Wednesday, the agents yarded 2553 lambs, 998 more than last week, and 1776 sheep, 552 fewer.

The NLRS said the quality of the lambs was plain for the lambs. All the regular winter buyers attended, but not all operated

A few local restockers bought Merino lambs for $60-$77. Prices overall were easier for the lighter weight old lambs by $4-$7, while the medium to heavier, more covered lambs remained unchanged. Light weight and light trade 1 and 2 score lambs sold from $42-$85. Medium trade and heavy trade weight 3 score lambs made $108-$136, to average 575c/kg cwt. Heavy and extra heavy lambs, 3 to 4 score, made $140-$165.

It was a mixed quality sheep yarding, with some heavy crossbred lines offered. Prices lifted generally $3-$6, and were up to $10 dearer in a few isolated sales. Light weight 1 and 2 score mutton sold from $44-$71. Medium trade 2 to 3 scores made $77-$95, to range from 330-400c/kg cwt. Heavy to extra heavy mostly crossbred sheep, 3 to 4 score, made $97-$120, averaging 380c/kg. Medium Merino wethers, 2 and 3 score, sold from $73-$107, or an estimated 400c/kg. The better rams made from $60-$86.

Ouyen’s export lambs lift $5-$8

At the Ouyen Livestock Exchange on Thursday, the agents yarded 5417 sucker lambs, 3507 old lambs and 3194 sheep. All of the usual buyers attended.

Quality export lambs sold $5-$8 dearer, fresh trade lambs were $6-$10 dearer and dry secondary trade lambs were firm.

Crossbred new season lambs of export weight sold from $160-$186, or 590-630c/kg, and trade weights made $125-$166, or 600-650c/kg. Merino lambs sold from $113-$136.20, or 520-580c/kg.

Mutton rates lifted $5. Light sheep sold from $74.60-$90, or 360-390c/kg, and the heavy weights made $90-$130, or 340-380c/kg.

The BR&C team sold a pen of donated cross bred suckers for $310 a head to support Matt and Amy Tomlins and family.

Katanning lamb prices firm

In Western Australia at the Katanning saleyards on Wednesday, the agents yarded 6000 lambs, 1931 more than last week, and 3791 sheep, 1209 fewer.

The NLRS said it was a mixed quality yarding at Katanning. Prices were firm on last week, with prime new season lambs selling to $127. All the usual buyers attended.

Heavier new season lambs sold from $117-$127, medium weights made $105-$116 and the lighter weights sold to $75. Air freight lambs sold from $69-$86. Trade weight crossbred lambs made from $95-$127 to average $115. Restockers and feeders paid $32 for very light weight crossbred lambs and $70 for the 15kg store lambs. They also paid $40-$55 for lightweight store Merino lambs.

Mutton prices remained strong, and export young rams and wethers were again in demand. Young Merino ewes sold to restockers for $52-$73 and smaller store wethers made $40-$81. Ewe prices were firm on last week’s prices and ewes with fleece length sold very well.

Light ewes sold from $50-$70 and 2 score processor mutton with a 75mm fleece made $88-$94. The better 3 score mutton sold from $75 for bare shorn lines up to $101 for those with wool. Restockers paid to $50-$95 for the younger store ewes.

Wether prices were strong, with processors paying $55-$70 for the lighter wethers and $115-$128 for the heavier weights. Restockers and feeders paid $30-$77 for the light stores. Live export wethers sold from $45-$120, depending on weight and fleece. Young rams sold from $70-$83, while the aged rams made $5-$20. Live export rams sold for $45-$90, depending on weight.

Warwick’s top lambs make $155

In Queensland at the Warwick saleyards on Wednesday, the Warwick Selling Agents yarded 1529 lambs and hoggets, and 710 sheep.

The top-priced lambs were estimated at 57.5kg lwt and made $155 for Millmerran producers R.E. and M.P. Scurr.

The market was firm to dearer for lambs and the mutton market was firm to a shade easier.

Crossbred lambs 46-55kg lwt sold from $132-$146, the 42-45kg lines made $122-$134, the 36-42kg lambs range from $106-$116.50 and 35-40kg lots made $98-$113.

Shorn crossbred hoggets estimated at 57.5kg lwt sold to $110. Trade wethers with $6 skins sold to $98, or 405c/kg cwt, and the light lines with $10 skins made to $71, or 330c/kg.

Heavy crossbred ewes with $8 skins sold to $120, or $405c/kg, and light ewes with $5 skins made to $64, or 310c/kg.

Sources: MLA, NLRS, Ouyen Livestock Exchange, Warwick Selling Agents.