Wednesday daily sheep summary

This week at Forbes, lamb numbers declined 17% to 20,250 head. Quality remained fair, with good numbers of well finished and plainer lambs on offer. The usual buyers attended and competed in a dearer market, and new season lines made up the bulk of the yarding.

Sheep consignments increased 43%, to 6,000 head. Quality was mixed, with Merinos well represented and a cheaper trend underlining the sale.

• New season trade weight 3 score lambs were up 3¢, at 649¢/kg cwt
• Old season light weight 2 score Merino lambs averaged 614¢/kg cwt
• Old season trade weight 4 score lambs were up 40¢, at 646¢/kg cwt
• Medium weight 3 score Merino ewes were back 23¢, averaging 398¢/kg cwt

Lamb throughput at Ballarat increased 28%, to 7,136 head. New season supplies continued to lift this week, with most of the usual buying group operating. Quality varied from good to average, with lighter sections attracting strong interest from both processor and store buyers and prices holding firm overall.

Mutton numbers declined 36%, to 3,293 head. Most sections sold either side of firm this week, with Merinos slightly easier and crossbreds dearer at times.

• New season light weight 2 score restocker lambs gained 3¢, to 622¢/kg cwt
• New season trade weight 3 score lambs were up 3¢, to 628¢/kg cwt
• Old season trade weight 3 score first-cross lambs gained 15¢, to 579¢/kg cwt
• Medium weight 2 score Merino ewes eased 4¢, to 409¢/kg cwt  

At the close of Tuesday’s markets:

• The eastern states restocker lamb indicator gained 38¢, to 674¢/kg cwt
• Merino lambs gained 24¢, on 585¢/kg cwt
• Light lambs were up 19¢, on 610¢/kg cwt
• Trade lambs were up 8¢, on 631¢/kg cwt
• Heavy lambs were up 4¢, to 622¢/kg cwt
• The mutton indicator settled 7¢ cheaper, at 403¢/kg cwt

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

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