Meat and Livestock Australia market reporter, Leann Dax said quality across trade categories was excellent and the bulk of the offering weighed more than 26kg cwt.

Lambs weighing more than 30kg were well supplied and trade lamb numbers lifted.

A full field of buyers were in attendance however this week there was very little restocker and feedlot competition.

Trade lambs ignited the bidding with companies concerned supplies may decline due to weather predictions. Lambs weighing 22 to 24kg improved $11 recording a top price of $227/head to average 888c/kg cwt.

Merino trade lambs sold to a bigger group of buyers and most categories showed stronger trends, averaging 750c/kg. Lambs returning to the paddock sold from $151 to $160/head.

The usual field of export buyers were in attendance and were keen to purchase a market share across all weights and grades.

Heavy and extra heavy lambs sold to stronger demand from both domestic and export processors. Heavy 24 to 26kg lambs sold $16/head dearer to average 855c/kg cwt.

Lambs 26kg to 30kg were keenly sought and averaged 781c/kg cwt. Heavy lambs over 30kg attracted all buyers with plenty of sales from $280 to $300/head.

It was another mixed quality yarding of mutton with heavy sheep in reasonable supply. Not all buyers attended or operated across heavy or trade categories.

Heavy ewes sold to erratic demand making from $183 to $230/head to average 638c/kg cwt. Trade sheep were unchanged to $5/head dearer, averaging 630c to 723c/kg cwt.

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