According to Meat and Livestock Australia’s National Livestock Reporting Service supply declined significantly on the back of last week’s cheaper market.

Quality was mixed with more plain lambs penned. Plenty of trade lambs lacked finish and buyers were only keen to bid strongly on shorter skinned types with plenty of shape. All export buyers were present, however not all domestic buyers operated.

There was a noticeable decline in trade lamb quality as the dry season begins to take a toll in some regions. Medium and heavy trade lambs sold firm to a few dollars cheaper, making from $131 to $159/head to average 592c/kg cwt. Well shaped shorn trade lambs were again keenly sought by feedlotters that paid up to $151/head. There was some demand from restockers however the bulk of the secondary lambs lacked quality and were purchased by processors. The bulk of the lambs to restock and feed-on made from $77 to $151/head.

Heavy and extra heavy lambs were in shorter supply and did not have the weight of previous sales. Heavy shorn lambs sold $7 cheaper making from $145 to $175/head.

Extra heavy shorn lambs were $12 cheaper making from $162 to $221/head to average 611c/kg cwt. It was a mixed offering of mutton with all weights and grades represented. Most buyers were operating and demand was solid with all buyers wanting a market share. Heavy mutton was unchanged selling from $111 to $184.20/head.

Trade sheep sold at $75 to $124 to average 425c/kg cwt. Light sheep made from $76 to $90/head.