Thursday daily sheep summary

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Lamb consignments at CTLX declined 28% week-on-week, to 7,900 head, and it was a much plainer quality offering, with only limited numbers of trade and heavy weight lambs penned. Light weight 2 score lambs slipped 8¢ on 497¢, while 3 score trade weight lambs were 63¢ lower on 544¢/kg cwt. Heavy weight 4 score lambs were back 47¢ on 559¢, while extra heavy 4 score lambs decreased 32¢ and averaged 569¢/kg cwt. Sheep throughput eased 6%, to 3,000 head, and most grades sold to a cheaper trend. Medium weight 3 score Merino ewes fell 7¢ on 402¢/kg cwt.

At Hamilton, the lamb offering declined 7%, to 4,987 head, and not all of the regular buyers operated. The better finished trade lambs sold to stronger competition than the light weight lines, and there was minimal store buyer activity. Light weight 2 score lambs were down 24¢ on 591¢, while 3 score trade weight lambs slipped 21¢ on 605¢/kg cwt. Heavy weight 4 score lambs lost 16¢ on 605¢, while extra heavy 4 score lambs eased 28¢ and averaged 590¢/kg cwt. Sheep consignments increased 75%, to 3,564 head, and prices were lower overall. Heavy weight 4 score crossbred ewes were back 5¢ and averaged 381¢/kg cwt.

At the close of Wednesday’s markets, the eastern states restocker lamb indicator was 19¢ lower on 489¢/kg cwt. Merino lambs remained unchanged on 528¢, while light lambs eased 3¢ on 550¢/kg cwt. Trade lambs slipped 5¢ on 580¢, while heavy lambs fell 4¢ on 583¢/kg cwt. The mutton indicator lost 3¢ and finished on 392¢/kg cwt.

Note: All yardings and prices referenced are from MLA’s National Livestock Reporting Service (NLRS) reported saleyards.