Thursday daily sheep summary

Lamb consignments at CTLX decreased 45% this week, to 3,600 head. Quality was fair, with the winter conditions shown throughout most categories. A few good pens of trade lines were on offer, with heavy weights limited and the market mixed overall.

Mutton numbers declined 20%, to 1,200 head. Most grades sold firm to dearer, with quality varying across all categories.

• Light weight 2 score lambs to slaughter averaged 507¢, back 32¢/kg cwt
• Trade weight 3 score lambs to processors were up 18¢, at 646¢/kg cwt
• Heavy weight 4 score lambs gained 50¢, averaging 654¢/kg cwt
• Heavy weight 4 score first-cross ewes were up 39¢, averaging 358¢/kg cwt

At Hamilton, lamb throughput declined 51%, to 2,212 head. A much smaller yarding was on offer this week, with quality ranging from average to plain across all categories. Not all the usual buyers were present, with the better finished trade weight trending either side of firm, and heavy weights, slightly easier.

Mutton numbers declined significantly this week, to 941 head. A mixed offering of sheep were penned this week, with not all the usual buyers operating.

• Light weight 2 score lambs to processors averaged 588¢, back 7¢/kg cwt
• Trade weight 3 score lambs to slaughter were back 12¢, at 659¢/kg cwt
• Heavy weight 3 score lambs were up 4¢, averaging 660¢/kg cwt  

At the close of Wednesday’s markets:

• The eastern states restocker lamb indicator averaged 545¢, back 3¢/kg cwt from where it finished the previous day
• Merino lambs were firm, on 558¢/kg cwt
• Light lambs were up 5¢, to 560¢/kg cwt
• Trade lambs were up 2¢, on 623¢/kg cwt
• Heavy lambs were up 1¢, to 632¢/kg cwt
• The mutton indicator gained 1¢, on 385¢/kg cwt

For the full list of sheep market reports, please click here                                                 

Note: All yardings and prices referenced are from MLA reported saleyards.