The top suckers were estimated to weigh 26 kilograms (dressed) and the market was quoted as being up to $15 dearer in places.

Widespread rain throughout southern NSW has fueled demand and buyers and vendors are calling it a “grass market”. 

Meat and Livestock Australia markets reporter Leann Dax said new-season lambs were $10 dearer.

She said trade lambs were $10 to $14 dearer. 

HOW THE LOTS SOLD: Vendors offered 33,080 sheep and lambs.

Numbers lifted and quality across trade and heavy lamb classes was quite good however light weight lambs were in plainer condition.

There was increased numbers of new season lambs offered, with over 2000 in one consignment which sold to strong restocking competition.

“Farmers are now in the process of locking up grazing crops, which is contributing to the rise in new season lamb at the market,” she said. 

Not all export buyers operated fully in the heavy export category, while major domestic processors were strongest on trade and heavy lambs displaying finish and shorter skins.

Mrs Dax said the greatest influence over trade prices was major domestic processors, who pushed the values of well finished trade and heavy lambs up to $10/head dearer.

The bulk of the new season trade lambs also sold $10 higher making from $124 to $166/head, to average 667c/kg cwt.

Grain fed and shorter skinned trade lambs again attracted the strongest bidding.

The better finished 22 to 24kg sold at $151 to $178/head, averaging 682c/kg cwt. Lighter weight new season lamb lambs sold from $60 to $113/head.

Heavy lambs sold to stronger export competition from a larger field of buyers.

Generally prices were $8 to $15 dearer to average 640c/kg cwt. Extra heavy lambs were in reasonable numbers selling at $174 to $224/head.

It was a mixed quality offering of sheep, with all weights and grades represented.

Trade sheep sold unchanged to $3 dearer selling at $64 to $114 to average 347c to 377c/kg cwt.