Wednesday daily sheep summary

This week at Forbes, lamb supply decreased 22%, to 22,000 head. Quality was similar to the previous sale, with both well finished and plainer lambs on offer. New season lines were well supplied, and all the usual buying group competed in a firm to dearer market overall.

Mutton consignments decreased marginally this week, to 5,850 head. Quality was similar, with conditions trending fairly steady and Merino ewes well supplied.

• Trade weight 3 score new season lambs eased 20¢, averaging 595¢/kg cwt
• Light weight 3 score old Merino lambs slipped 27¢, averaging 536¢/kg cwt
• Trade weight 4 score old lambs to slaughter were back 4¢, to 583¢/kg cwt
• Medium weight 3 score Merino ewes were up 5¢, to 400¢/kg cwt

Lamb numbers at Ballarat increased 13%, to 5,415 head. A rise in supply saw quality vary from plain to average across most categories, with the exception of a few new season drafts presenting in good condition.

Mutton throughput declined 23%, to 2,534 head. A few drafts of well-bred Merino wethers were penned this week, with most of the usual buying group active.

• Light weight 3 score new season lambs eased 72¢, averaging 612¢/kg cwt
• Light weight 2 score old first-cross lambs gained 4¢, to 448¢/kg cwt
• Trade weight 3 score old lambs to slaughter dropped 39¢, to 550¢/kg cwt
• Light weight 2 score Merino ewes were up 14¢, to 395¢/kg cwt

At the close of Tuesday’s markets:

• The eastern states restocker lamb indicator eased 11¢, to 570¢/kg cwt
• Merino lambs held firm on 493¢/kg cwt
• Light lambs were up 1¢, on 527¢/kg cwt
• Trade lambs were back 2¢, on 581¢/kg cwt
• Heavy lambs were back 1¢, on 589¢/kg cwt
• The mutton indicator finished firm, 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.