Wednesday daily sheep summary

Lamb numbers at Forbes declined 7% this week, to 24,700 head. Quality continued to vary throughout most sections, with a good offering of heavy and extra heavy lines and the usual buyers competing in a firm to dearer market.

Sheep consignments decreased 18%, to 4,650 head. Quality was mixed, with prices remaining strong and Merinos making up the majority of the yarding.

• Light weight 2 score new season lambs to restockers gained 55¢, to 649¢/kg cwt
• Trade weight 4 score new season lambs to processors jumped 31¢, to 630¢/kg cwt
• Heavy weight 4 score new season lambs averaged 31¢ dearer, at 624¢/kg cwt
• Extra heavy weight 4 score new season lambs gained 30¢, to 579¢/kg cwt
• Medium weight 3 score Merino ewes eased 10¢, to 396¢/kg cwt

Throughput at CVLX Ballarat declined 24%, to 25,364 head. The usual buying group operated strongly in a generally firmer market this week, with heavy lines selling dearer and restockers active on lighter sections.

Mutton numbers declined 50%, to 5,329 head. The regular buying group were in attendance, although not all operated fully, with all weights and grades on offer.

• Light weight 2 score new season lambs to restockers eased 60¢, to 608¢/kg cwt
• Heavy weight 4 score old season lambs to processors slipped 1¢, to 625¢/kg cwt
• Extra heavy weight 4 score old season lambs gained 3¢, to 615¢/kg cwt
• Heavy weight 3 score first-cross ewes were back 11¢, to 368¢/kg cwt

At the close of Tuesday’s markets:

• The eastern states restocker lamb indicator averaged 661¢, decreasing 8¢/kg cwt on where it finished the previous day  
• Merino lambs averaged 545¢, back 3¢/kg cwt
• Light lambs averaged 613¢, down 8¢/kg cwt
• Trade lambs averaged 603¢, back 3¢/kg cwt
• Heavy lambs averaged 610¢, up 2¢/kg cwt
• The mutton indicator finished 10¢ lower, at 395¢/kg cwt

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

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