Wednesday daily sheep summary

Lamb numbers at Forbes declined 14% this week, to 11,450 head. Quality eased slightly on the previous sale, with a greater percentage of lambs showing signs of dryness, along with a few better conditioned types. Depending on quality, the usual buyers competed in a firm to marginally easier market overall – with trade and heavy weight types well represented.

Mutton consignments increased 15%, to 6,950 head. Merinos made up the bulk of the offering, with most ewes trending dearer, however quality did vary across all other categories.

• New season light weight 2 score lambs to restockers were up 33¢, at 645¢/kg cwt
• New season heavy weight 4 score lambs to slaughter slipped 29¢, to 554¢/kg cwt
• New season extra heavy weight 4 score lambs averaged 7¢ lower, at 551¢/kg cwt
• Medium weight 3 score Merino ewes eased 9¢, averaging 387¢/kg cwt
• Medium weight 3 score Merino wethers were down 21¢, at 392¢/kg cwt

This week at CVLX Ballarat, throughput increased 37% to 50,654 head. In what was one of the largest offerings for some time, quality remained good to very good in sections, with all weights and grades on offer. The usual buyers operated in an easier market, with lighter categories the exception – holding firm to dearer in places, as both restockers and processors were notably active.

Sheep numbers increased 18%, to 7,198 head. All grades were on offer this week, with most presenting in good condition along with a few particularly impressive drafts of heavy crossbred and Merino lines.

• New season trade weight 3 score lambs to slaughter eased 17¢, to 518¢/kg cwt
• New season heavy weight 4 score lambs to processors were back 25¢, to 517¢/kg cwt
• New season extra heavy weight lambs averaged 13¢ lower, at 515¢/kg
• Heavy weight first-cross ewes gained 5¢, to 356¢/kg cwt

At the close of Tuesday’s markets:

• The eastern states restocker lamb indicator averaged 3¢ dearer, at 621¢/kg cwt
• Merino lambs were up 13¢, to 512¢/kg cwt
• Light lambs gained 3¢, to 573¢/kg cwt
• Trade lambs were back 3¢, on 526¢/kg cwt
• Heavy lambs eased 2¢, to 519¢/kg cwt
• The mutton indicator finished 6¢ higher, at 404¢/kg cwt

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

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