According to the National Livestock Reporting Service numbers lifted on the back of last week's dearer market.

Quality for trade and heavy lamb classes was outstanding, with most supplementary fed or finished off crop.

Continuing demand drove prices higher, with trade lambs benefiting from strong major domestic processor competition.

A shortage of heavy lambs at other selling centres ignited the bidding over all weight ranges resulting in a price lift. The usual field of buyers attended. Restocker and feedlot competition was minimal.

The domestic lamb market continued to climb higher, buoyed by stronger demand from major domestic processors.

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The bulk of the heavy trade lambs 22-24kg gained $3, making from $215 to $245/head to average 963c/kg cwt. Light and medium trade weight lambs averaged from 887c to 958c/kg cwt. Merino trade lambs were keenly sought by a large field of buyers, making from $185 to $228/head.

There was a limited selection of quality store lambs on offer. Restockers and feedlots operated sporadically, paying from $146 to $181/head. The strong point of the market was for heavy and extra heavy lambs, led by major northern export companies. Generally, heavy lambs 24- 26kg sold from $234 to $274/head.

Extra heavy lambs prices gathered pace as the sale progressed, recording a top price of $347.20/head. Prices lifted $9 to $10/head to average 963c/kg cwt.

Sheep numbers increased and all weights and grades were represented. The market fluctuated over heavy weight categories, with bidding intense at times.

Heavy crossbred ewes topped at $245/head to average 629c/kg cwt. Heavy Merino ewes were keenly sought by a northern processor that contributed to a dearer trend of $18 to $24/head.

Merino wethers weighing 26kg plus sold from $177 to $210/head. Trade sheep were well supplied , making from $119 to $151/head, averaging from 562c to 613c/kg cwt. Light sheep sold to a smaller group of buyers, receiving from $75 to $115/head.