Numbers declined and quality was mixed with producers continuing to offload secondary older lambs.

In the offering agents yarded just over 7000 new-season lambs and quality was excellent with the bulk of the young lambs suiting domestic processors.

According to Meat and Livestock Australia’s National Livestock Reporting Service the usual export and domestic buyers were in attendance and most companies were operating.

However some major processors were very selective across older lamb categories.

New season lambs were in greater numbers and quality was excellent.

Buyers were more subdued to the previous sale and prices eased by $5/head.

Trade lambs sold from $128 to $154/head to average 620c/kg cwt. Heavy young lambs were in limited supply selling from $156 to $166/head.

Shorn old trade lambs were keenly sought with buyers paying a premium for well finished types with shape.

The bulk of the old trade lambs were firm to $5 cheaper making from $113 to $154/head to average 582c/kg cwt.

Merino trade lambs were in reasonable supply making from $113 to $153.60/head. Light lambs to the processors sold $5 to $11 dearer making from $96 to $126/head.

Heavy lambs were in reasonable numbers and quality was very good, with plenty of lambs weighing an estimated 30kg plus.

Heavy lambs sold to a larger group of processors to average 575c/kg cwt. The bulk of the extra heavy lambs sold to steady demand from $153 to $205/head to average 570c/kg cwt.

It was a mixed quality yarding of mutton, and not all buyers were operating.

Heavy sheep sold to stronger bidding to lift $13 and some sales were $17/head dearer, to average 439c to 480/kg cwt.

Trade weight sheep were well supplied, making from $91 to $125/head to average 439c to 470c/kg cwt.