PRICES eased by $5 to $8 a head at the Wagga sheep and lamb market on Thursday.
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Vendors sold a total of 40,000 sheep and lambs and according to market reporter with Meat and Livestock Australia’s National Livestock Reporting Service Leann Dax more than 60 per cent of the offering was store lambs in varying condition.
Trade lambs were in short supply, while heavy lambs were limited with very few lamb weighing above 27kg cwt. Young shorn trade lambs attracted the best competition and were keenly sought by all buyers. Not all major trade buyers operated fully.
Store lambs were well supplied, however most were unshorn and prices eased $5 to $8/head New season lambs trade lambs were limited over all weight categories.
The bulk of the offering sold a few dollars easier making from $120 to $164/head, to average 600c/kg cwt.
Heavy young lambs were limited, selling from $160 to $185/head. Extra heavy lambs sold from $175 to $195.20/head, to average 620c/kg cwt.
Light weight new season lambs to slaughter lacked support from processors, making from $98 to $119/head. There was a bigger selection of mixed quality store lambs in all weights and grades.
Light weight store lambs sold from $71 to $107, while the heavier lambs returning to the paddock made from $113 to $128/head.
Shorn new season trade lambs were keenly sought and buyers once again paid a premium for the better shapes to average 629c/kg cwt, while the heavy portion sold from $158 to $193.60/head. It was a mixed quality offering of mutton with all weights and grades represented.
Most buyers were operating over all categories.
Heavy Merino ewes made from $130 to $162.20, while heavy Merino wethers topped at $166.20/head.
Heavy crossbred ewes sold from $124 to $168/head, averaging 424c/kg cwt. Trade sheep were keenly sought, making from $83 to $140/head and averaging 475c/kg cwt.
The mixed quality supply of light sheep sold from $78 to $100/head.
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