The prediction of rain and reduced offering fuelled prices in a mixed quality offering.

According to Meat and Livestock Australia’s National Livestock Reporting Service there were limited supplies of heavy lambs, with buyer intensity increasing as the sale progressed.

Trade lambs quality was mixed, with shorter-skinned lambs benefiting from the strongest competition.

Well-bred store lambs and plainer non-descript light weight lambs attracted strong competition from a large gallery of store buyers.

The usual export and domestic buyers were in attendance. The trade market surged up to $20/head on the back of limited supplies with the shorter skinned trade lambs attracting the best competition.

The bulk of trade lambs made from $131 to $180/head to average 675c/kg cwt. Store lambs with weight and frame sold to dearer trends selling at $130 to $147.60/head. Light non-descript lambs back to the paddock made from $92 to $132/head.

Heavy lambs were in short supply and the market lacked numbers weighing above 30kg. Heavy lambs sold $18/head dearer to average 676c with plenty of sales selling above 700c/kg cwt.

The bulk of the heavy and extra heavy lambs lifted $20, while lambs over 30kg cwt jumped $29/head. The bulk of the extra heavy lambs sold from $178 to $247.20/head to average 675c to 698c/kg cwt. In the mutton market, quality was mixed and all categories sold to strong demand. Heavy sheep sold from $130 to $205.20/head.

Medium grades sold $9 to $12 dearer selling from $105 to $144/head. Light sheep were in limited supply to average 531c/kg cwt.