New season lamb supply remained a bright spot withgood numbers of well finished, fresh young lambs continuing to roll into the markets.
Lamb quality was good despite the limited numbers, another factor that lead to elevated lamb prices.
Trade weight new season lambs attracted price premiums again with sales averaging from $126 to $135/head.
This left most pens averaging 30c higher at 573c/kg cwt.
Old trade lambs to processors were $6 dearer as most sales ranged from $108 to $126/head, as the heavier portion averaged 538c/kg cwt.
Heavy lambs sold to a mixture of export and domestic competition as the 3 score pens gained $7 to settle around $135/head or 532c/kg cwt.
The better conditioned and heavier pens averaged $132 after topping at $180/head.
Good quality merino lambs attracted increased competition due to the smaller yarding as the trade weight lambs averaged $106/head or 461c/kg cwt.
The reduced numbers of mutton and the ongoing strong demand combined to boost prices by around $5/head.
Medium weight Merino ewes to slaughter topped at $126, to average $109/head or 420c/kg cwt.
Cattle
The rain not only impacted supply, but quality too, which at many centres was improved on recent weeks.
This was due to producers looking to hold onto their plainer lines to finish.
A full contingent of restockers and feeders made their presence felt across all centres which resulted in dearer prices for all bar a handful of categories.
The eastern young cattle indicator (EYCI) reached a new yearly high on Thursday, at 366.25c which was 5.75c/kg cwt above the corresponding time last week.
Only a small run of calves were offered with restockers securing the majority around 245c with sales to 265.2c/kg.
Light vealer steers returning to the paddock topped at 244.2c as most made from 216c to 235c/kg.
Medium weights averaged 215c to remain fully firm as some heavier weights to feeders gained 12c to 212c/kg.
The few medium and heavy vealer steers to slaughter made around 208c/kg.
A large run of light vealer heifers to the trade gained 8c to 214c as medium and heavy weights ranged from 200c to 206c/kg.
Light yearling steers to feeders and restockers sold around 210c as the medium weights to feed ranged from 205c to 209c/kg.
Heavy yearling steers to feeders gained 4c to 192c/kg.
The few medium weight C3s to the trade lifted 10c to 204c/kg as the heifer portion increased 5c to 189.2c/kg.
Medium weight grown steers to feeders remained unchanged at 181c as those to export slaughter improved 7c to 180c/kg.
Lean heavy steers averaged 184c as the C4s sold closer to 185c/kg.
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