Lamb numbers increase
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Lamb numbers at markets reported by MLA’s NLRS increased 19% week-on-week, for a total of 134,160 head. Dubbo increased by 15%, for 40,000 lambs, as Tamworth lost 2%, to pen 3,880 head. Forbes gained 2% to yard 33,000 head in total, as CTLX increased by 4% for a penning of 8,450 lambs. Wagga lifted its total by 36% for a large penning of 43,300 head.
Sheep supply increased by 2% week-on-week, for a total of 30,960 head penned. Dubbo consigned 9,150 sheep, while Tamworth penned 2,350 head. Forbes offered 6,300 sheep, while CTLX doubled its numbers, to 2,700 head, albeit from low base. Wagga yarded increased consignments of sheep, totalling 8,100 head
Quality varies
The majority of markets yarded all classes of lambs, with good numbers of Merinos and exotics at Dubbo, Forbes and Inverell. All the major markets penned good quality and supplementary fed trade and heavy weight lambs. Tamworth yarded a good quality offering, while CTLX and Wagga both yarded typical winter quality lambs, seeing competition ease. Forbes and Wagga combined, offered 9,000 new season lambs.
Lamb prices trend lower
Cheaper trends were evident for the new season categories, with prices around $2 to $5/head lower week-on-week.
The older lambs trended cheaper, especially at the latter weekly markets, as the prime conditioned trade weights slipped $2 to $6 and averaged from $119 to $134, after topping at $148/head. These categories attained an average price around the 530¢ to 555¢/kg cwt range. The heavier weights slipped $2 to $6, as the tops reached $190/head, or an average price of 534¢ to 558¢/kg cwt.
Wethers maintained firm prices, while the ewe portion sold marginally cheaper. The better 2 to 4 scores averaged from 290¢ to 370¢/kg cwt.