Meat and Livestock Australia’s National Livestock Reporting Service states that quality across heavy lamb categories was outstanding with numerous pens weighing above 30kg cwt.

Trade lambs were in reasonable supply and once again the shorter skinned portion igniting competition. Light lambs sold to steady demand from both restockers and processors.

Competition for trade and heavy lambs intensified with all companies keen for a market share. There were a few more restockers interested in acquiring shorn lighter weight types.

The trade market sold to stronger competition with well-shaped recently shorn lambs attracting all buyers, and the top pens making 720c/kg cwt. The better presented trade lambs gained $5/head, to average 682c/kg cwt. Restockers were in the market paying from $61 to $89, while feedlots recorded a top price of $128/head. Heavy and extra heavy lamb numbers increased significantly and all buyers operated strongly. Heavy lambs sold $6/head dearer, to average 656c/kg cwt.

Extra heavy lambs sold to stronger competition making from $175 to $247/head, to average 626c/kg cwt. It was a plainer quality offering of mutton with all weights and grades represented. All buyers were operating in a market, which remained relatively solid.

Heavy crossbred ewes made from $134 to $194.20/head, averaging 483c/kg cwt. Heavy Merino ewes and wethers sold from $130 to $165, while trade Merino trade sheep sold from $104 to $120/head, to average 477c/kg cwt.