VENDORS sold 35,660 sheep and lambs at the Wagga market on Thursday.
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On the back of last week’s cheaper prices over all categories and significant rainfall across the supply area, numbers declined notably.
According to Meat and Livestock Australia’s National Livestock Reporting Service there were more than 20,000 new-season lambs offered and quality was good to mixed across some trade and lighter weight categories.
The usual group of buyers attended, however not all major domestic processors operated fully.
The reduced supplies of trade lambs pushed prices $10 to $13/head higher. The bulk of new season trade lambs made from $145 to $197/head averaging 749c/kg cwt.
Bidding was stronger for young heavy and extra heavy lambs, with premium prices paid for the shorn portion. Prices tracked $17 to $24/head dearer to average 779c/kg cwt for the shorn portion.
There was a larger gallery of store buyers competing strongly over all weight classes. Light lambs to turnout sold from $42 to $111/head.
Lambs with more frame and weight to feed on sold from $130 to $158/head. Rain was the catalyst for a significantly dearer trend in the mutton market.
Rain inspired northern processors and restockers, which resulted in a dearer trend of $13 to $21/head.
Heavy crossbred ewes recorded a top price of $179/head to average 472c, however there were plenty of sales above 500c/kg cwt.
Heavy crossbred ewes returning to the paddock sold from $162 to $182/head.
Trade sheep were well supplied making from $85 to $132/head and averaging from 469c to 520c/kg cwt.