Lamb quality was mixed across all weights and grades. There was a full turnout of buyers in attendance and all processors were operating in a much dearer market.

Trade lambs were in shorter supply and prices strengthened substantially over all categories. Light trade weight lambs were limited and the better finished lambs averaged $122.10/head.

Medium and heavy trade lambs were in greater numbers, with limited supplies of shorn young lambs which were supplementary fed.

Select butcher orders and stronger demand from major domestic processors drove the market noticeably higher.

There were plenty of trade lambs which sold above 600c/kg, with the majority averaging 594c/kg cwt. Merino lambs were also in limited numbers and well finished pens suitable for the trade sold $7 to $13/head dearer.

Plainer light weight lambs to the processors were keenly sought and prices lifted $8 to $12/head owing to the lack of numbers. Heavy and extra heavy lambs sold to strong competition, however there was a greater variation in quality to the previous week. The bulk of the heavy and extra heavy lambs made from $144 to $204/head.

Heavy lambs averaged 579c/kg while the extra heavy pens averaged 563c/kg cwt.

Mutton numbers were lower and quality was mixed with the majority of the sheep medium weights. Merino ewes suitable for the trade were in reasonable supply, and prices were generally unchanged to $3/head cheaper.

Trade sheep made from $74 to $117/head to average 415c/kg cwt. Heavy sheep were in limited numbers, selling from $110 to $103.2/head. Heavy wethers reached a top price of $138.20/head, to average434c/kg cwt.