After to substantial rainfall throughout NSW, lamb numbers slipped by 35 per cent week-on-week, for a total of 64,031 head.

Dubbo fell by 18 per cent and totalled 18,120 lambs, as Tamworth yarded 2500 head, up 41 per cent week-on-week. Forbes only offered 9511 lambs, while CTLX slipped by 50 per cent, to yard 4500 head. Wagga lost 30 per cent and offered 25,000 lambs, as Cootamundra continued its fortnightly market and penned 4400 lambs.

The smaller offering of lambs throughout NSW caused competition to strengthen, with the light weights lifting by $6/head. The trade weights gained $5 to $9, making from $95 to $146/head, or an average from 552c to 573c/kg cwt. The heavier weights improved by $6 to $11, as the lighter end ranged from $109 to $165, while the extra heavy weights topped at $208/head. These categories attained an average price from 558c to 578c/kg cwt. The best of the heavy weight Merino pens averaged in the 505c/kg cwt range.

Mutton

Sheep numbers slipped 43 per cent, week-on-week, for a total of 19,682 head.

Dubbo, along with Tamworth yarded 5560 sheep and 1350 head, respectively, as Forbes numbers fell to 3172 head. CTLX penned 2200 sheep, with Wagga offering 5000 head, while Cootamundra yarded 2400 head.

Sheep averaged $6 to $8/head dearer, with the majority of sales going to processor orders. The medium and heavy weights ranged from $62 to $146/head, with the 2 to 4 score Merino mutton averaging in the 366c to 466c/kg cwt range.