Details from Meat and Livestock Australia's National Livestock Reporting Service show that numbers dropped sharply at this sale with both lamb and mutton affected.

Lamb quality was similar to that of previous sales with mostly heavy and extra heavy weights offered.

Not all the usual buyers were present and competing in a market that followed the weeks cheaper trend.

There was 150 new season lambs penned and these sold from $183 to $190/head.

Old trade weight lambs were $15 cheaper with lambs to 26kg selling from $170 to $186/head.

Extra heavy weights eased $20 to receive from $189 to $220/head. Carcase prices averaged from 634c to 715/kg cwt. Merino lambs sold from $138 to $184/head.

Dorper lambs were well supplied and received from $155 to $200/head. Mutton numbers were very limited and prices declined. Merino ewes sold from $167 to $185 with crossbreds reaching $205/head.