IT was a day of record making, and breaking, at the Wagga sheep and lamb sale when vendors sold 30,000 sheep and lambs.
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A highlight was when a Temora vendor sold extra-heavy lambs for a national record of $258.20.
Meat and Livestock Australia’s national livestock reporting service market reporter Leann Dax said quality across heavy lamb categories was outstanding with good numbers weighing above 30kg cwt.
Trade lambs were in shorter supply and once again the shorter skinned portion sold to the strongest competition. Light lambs sold to steady demand from processors.
Competition for trade and heavy lambs intensified with all companies reportedly short on supplies.
The trade market sold to much stronger competition with well-shaped recently shorn lambs attracting all buyers, with the top pens making to 759c/kg cwt.
The better presented trade lamb gained up to $10/head to average 701c/kg cwt.
The heavy and extra heavy lambs sale saw strong competition.
Lambs, 26-30kg, sold to a top price of $228 while lambs above 30kg recorded a top price of $258.20/head to average 660c/kg cwt. Merino lambs weighing 28kg sold to $212.20, while other heavy pens sold from $172-$175/head.
It was a mixed quality offering of mutton with all weights and grades represented.
All buyers were operating in a dearer market. Heavy crossbred ewes made from $165 to $207/head averaging 511c/kg cwt.
Heavy Merino ewes and wethers sold from $130 to $208/head, while trade Merino trade sheep sold at $100 to $138/head averaging 523c/kg cwt.
When discussing the record-priced lambs Riverina Livestock Agents livestock agent and auctioneer James Tierney of Wagga explained that the prices were due to the fact so many sheep and lambs had been sold off.
He said there had been big sales during the past three months.
This meant it was a typical supply and demand situation that was driving prices to record highs.
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