Lamb supply firm, prices mixed

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Eastern states lamb supply, reported by MLA’s National Livestock Reporting Service, was 3% higher week-on-week, at 150,995 head, with the inclusion of NSW fortnightly markets of Cootamundra and Deniliquin attributing to the rise. Quality remains mixed, with the transition between young and older lambs more prominent in NSW.

At the conclusion of Thursday’s markets:

• The eastern states restocker lamb indicator was 7¢ lower week-on-week on 549¢/kg cwt
• Merino lambs eased 8¢ to 529¢, while light lambs were 6¢ higher on 539¢/kg cwt
• The Eastern States Trade Lamb Indicator (ESTLI) gained 3¢ to 592¢/kg cwt
• The heavy lamb indicator decreased 1¢ to 594¢/kg cwt

Eastern states mutton throughput was 21% higher, at 53,259 head, spurred by a rise in yardings in SA and Victoria.

• The mutton indicator concluded Thursday’s markets lifting 5¢ to settle on 375¢/kg cwt.