After the dearer prices last week, total lamb supply across MLA's NLRS reported markets lifted 10 per cent.
Sheep throughput declined around 25per cent on the back of reduced yardings last week.
Producers opted to offload lambs following the dearer market of the past fortnight, and this was most evident at Forbes, as around 24,000 lambs were yarded.
Trade lambs once again dominated the yarding, accounting for 61 per cent of the supply where as heavy lambs consisted of 28 per cent.
Over the hooks rates early in the week were generally firm to slightly cheaper as processors took a wait and see approach in regards to supply and the anticipation of a cheaper physical markets during the week. Direct to works mutton prices surged again, with some quotes within the market pressing 350c/kg cwt.
Few pens of store lambs were sighted, which only helped to intensify the competition along lines of unfinished lambs. Restockers secured two score light lambs from $59 to $89, as most pens sold for $82/head.
Opportunistic feeder buyers were active on all store lambs up to 20kg cwt, paying between $85 and $114/head for unfinished trade weights pens.
Medium trade weight lambs to processors eased in price, with most sales from 410c to 573c, averaging 522c/kg cwt.
Large numbers of heavy trade weights were presented, also selling to a softer market. Sales peaked at 561c, as most pens sold around 502c/kg cwt.
Heavy lambs prices were up to 23c cheaper, with the most sales from 417c to 526c/kg cwt.
Export processors were prepared to pay to $166 for the heaviest pens at Forbes, averaging 469c/kg cwt.
Medium weight crossbred ewes purchased by a restocker at Inverell reached $121/head.
Light-conditioned merino ewes to slaughter topped at 410c, while the three score pens reached 396c to average 356c/kg cwt.
Heavy first cross ewes to slaughter were firm selling from 233c to 422c as most pens settled at 361c/kg cwt.
Cattle
SUPPLY across the state was down 22 per cent with Armidale, Casino, Gunnedah, Inverell and Wagga recording the largest falls.
Most of the usual buyers are present at all markets and they are being pushed by restockers who are looking to take advantage of the abundance of feed now available.
The majority of the yardings have been in fair to good condition particularly vealers which continue to be highly sought after by all buyers.
Yearling and grown cattle yardings varied with limited supply at some markets although demand remains strong.
The indicator grades varied across the state with most selling to a dearer trend. The C2 vealers to restockers gained 9c while those going to the trade were up 8c/kg. Trade weight yearling steers back to the paddock gained 2c, C2's to slaughter gained 8c while C3's to processors lost 1c/kg.
Grown steers and bullock prices were mixed, the lightweight consignments lost between 1c and 5c while the heavier lots and most cow grades gained between 2c and 5c/kg.
Restockers continue to drive higher prices across the state. Calves to restockers gained 11c to 15c to reach a high of 244c/kg.
Both steer and heifer vealer prices also realised gains across all weights of 8c to 12c/kg.
Medium weight vealer steers to restockers ranged from 170c to 226c to average 206c/kg.
Those going to the trade were also higher to average 205.4c/kg.
Yearlings were strongly sought after by all buyers and the higher prices reflected this.
Lightweight steers to feed were 9c stronger while those going back to the paddock gained 4c/kg.
Trade weights to feed and restock also saw reasonable gains although those going to slaughter were 1c/kg back. Heavyweights gained 4c to 11c/kg.
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