VENDORS sold 31,400 sheep and lambs at the Wagga market on Thursday.
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According to Meat and Livestock Australia's National Livestock Reporting Service numbers declined, while quality remained excellent across trade and heavy lamb classes.
Light-weight lambs were quite mixed with some plainer pens throughout the yarding.
The market prices were unsustainable with some export and domestic processors operating on a shorter working week and concerned about an oversupply at abattoirs, while the COVID-19 pandemic is ongoing.
The usual buying contingent were at the rail and all were buying in a cheaper market.
Trade buyers were very selective which resulted in cheaper price trends of $20 to $25/head. Trade lambs, 22 to 24kg, made from $180 to $203/head to average 780c to 830c/kg cwt.
Light lambs to the processors sold from 700c to 730c/kg cwt. Restocking competition was minimal causing prices to drop $20/head. Heavy export lambs sold to a cautious group of buyers.
Prices were $10 to $12/head cheaper. Heavy lambs made from $186 to $210/head. Extra heavy lambs sold from $200 to $286.20/head, averaging 787c/kg cwt.
The mutton market sold to weaker price trends of $10 to $15/head. Heavy sheep made from $200 to $230 with a single isolated sale of crossbred ewes recording a top price of $285.20/head.
Trade sheep ranged in price from $160 to $185/head, averaging from 660c to 680c/kg cwt.