Wednesday daily sheep summary

This week at Forbes, lamb throughput lifted marginally to 29,100 head. Despite the steadier offering, quality reduced on the levels reached in the previous sale – with a large percentage starting to show the effects of the hot and dry conditions. The usual buyers competed in a cheaper market, with heavy lambs well supplied.

Sheep throughput declined 2%, to 5,900 head. Quality continued to be very mixed this week, with the market trending mostly dearer overall.

• Light weight 3 score old season lambs to processors eased 16¢, to 635¢/kg cwt
• Trade weight 4 score old season lambs to slaughter slipped 30¢, to 628¢/kg cwt
• Heavy weight 4 score old season lambs averaged 25¢ lower, at 636¢/kg cwt
• Extra heavy weight 4 score old season lambs averaged 639¢, back 15¢/kg cwt
• Medium weight 3 score Merino ewes eased 3¢, to 407¢/kg cwt

Lamb numbers at CVLX Ballarat increased 17%, to 24,722 head. Quality was good across most sections this week, with trade weight lines limited. The usual buyers operated in an easier market – with most trade and heavy weight sections trending cheaper.

Mutton consignments increased 51%, to 8,510 head. All weights and grades were on offer this week, with all the usual buyers operating keenly in a dearer market and lighter drafts well supplied.

• Light weight 2 score old season lambs to restockers gained 55¢, to 696¢/kg cwt  
• Trade weight 3 score old season lambs to processors slipped 72¢, to 605¢/kg cwt
• Heavy weight 4 score old season lambs eased 63¢, to 632¢/kg cwt
• Extra heavy weight 4 score old season lambs slipped 44¢, to 623¢/kg cwt
• Heavy weight 4 score first-cross ewes averaged 4¢ dearer, at 382¢/kg cwt 

At the close of Tuesday’s markets:

• The eastern states restocker lamb indicator averaged 701¢/kg cwt, holding firm on where it finished the previous day  
• Merino lambs averaged 560¢, back 27¢/kg cwt
• Light lambs averaged 629¢, down 5¢/kg cwt
• Trade lambs averaged 628¢, down 11¢/kg cwt
• Heavy lambs averaged 629¢, down 17¢/kg cwt
• The mutton indicator finished 1¢ lower, at 418¢/kg cwt

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

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