Meat and Livestock Australia’s National Livestock Reporting Service stated that the numbers declined due to the forecast rain across the state. 

Quality across heavy lamb categories lacked the weight of previous months with the average weight across the offering estimated to be around 29kg cwt.

Trade lambs were limited with the shorter skinned portion attracting the strongest competition. Light lambs sold to patchy competition at times due to the plainer drafts offered.

Competition for trade and heavy lambs intensified particularly for recently shorn trade lambs.

There were a few more restockers interested in try to make purchases however most were looking at the cheaper end of the market. The trade market sold to stronger competition with well-shaped recently shorn lambs attracting all buyers, with some sales to 700c/kg cwt.

Trade lamb prices generally strengthened $4/head to average 658c/kg cwt. Restockers were in the market paying from $45 to $70 while feedlots recorded a top price of $130/head.

Heavy and extra heavy lambs numbers declined and all buyers operated. Heavy lambs sold $3/head dearer to average 628c/kg.

Extra heavy lambs sold to strong demand making from $174 to 225.50/head to average 609c/kg cwt. It was a very mixed quality offering of mutton with all weights and grades represented.

All buyers were operating in a market which fluctuated over medium and heavy categories. Heavy crossbreds sold up to $13/head cheaper to average 455c/kg cwt. Heavy Merino ewe mutton was limited to average 487c, while trade Merino sheep sold $3 to $6/head dearer to average 476c/kg cwt.