Lamb consignments ease
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Lamb consignments slipped 10% week-on-week at MLA’s NLRS reported markets. The first sale at Dubbo lost 24% in total, to pen 15,000 lambs. Tamworth slipped 5%, as Forbes defied the lower trend and lifted its consignments by 8% for a total of 25,600 lambs. CTLX maintained similar numbers, as Goulburn penned 20% fewer, for only 2,100 yarded. Wagga maintained reasonable numbers despite easing 9%, for an offering of 27,150 head, in total.
Sheep sales were again marginally smaller, as consignments slipped 5%, week-on-week. Dubbo, together with CTLX, penned 22% and 15% extra sheep, respectively, as Forbes lost 21% for a total of 6,700 head. Tamworth nearly tripled its numbers, albeit from a small offering at the previous market, to pen 2,000 head in total. Wagga lost 20% for a yarding of 7,950 head.
Quality remains mixed
Dubbo reported another mixed quality yarding, with quality tapering off at Tamworth after its run of good quality lambs. Forbes penned similar quality lambs, as CTLX yarded a better quality offering. Wagga reported that its heavy weight lambs lacked the weight offered at the previous market. Percentage wise, the trade weight lambs weighing up to 24kg cwt made up the bulk offered.
Merino ewes were well represented throughout the mutton categories. There were pens of good quality Merino wethers, with an exceptional number offered at the CTLX complex. The lower numbers offered throughout markets kept prices buoyant at all selling centres.
Prices lift throughout most classes
Prices lifted, with next week’s shorter selling program due to the Easter break contributing in places. Lightweights (12kg to 18kg) suitable for restockers and processor orders gained $4 to $6, as restockers paid to $125/head to secure their selections. Trade weights lifted $8 to $10, as the heavier end averaged $139.50/head, or 602¢/kg cwt. Heavy weights improved $6 to $8, as prices reached $205.50/head for the extra heavy weights. Again the majority averaged around the 600¢/kg cwt range.
Sheep trended dearer week-on-week, as the best heavy weight wethers topped at $155/head. The better 2 to 4 score mutton, suitable for the processors averaged from 305¢ to 422¢/kg cwt, depending on weight and condition.