Meat and Livestock Australia market reporter Leann Dax said quality across new season heavy export and trade weight categories was excellent, along with a very good selection of well-bred store lambs.

Old trade and heavy export lamb quality was fair to good.

A full field of domestic buyers were operating however not all export buyers attended.

New-season lambs were keenly sought with the market fluctuating in early sales before strengthening.

Lambs 22kg to 24kg sold from $192 to $266/head to average 986c/kg cwt. Extra-heavy young lambs met strong demand from the southern processors selling from $273 to $290, while more than 30kg cwt set a new Australian record of $340/head to average 1001c/kg cwt.

There was a very good selection of well-bred young lambs suitable for restockers and feedlots.

Prices increased for store lambs by $5 to $10/head, buyers travelled from Ballarat, Goulburn and the local area.

Lambs with weight and frame made from $167 to $222/head.

Old trade lamb quality was plain to fair with some stock lacking finish. Lambs weighing 22kg to 24kg averaged 889c/kg cwt. Merino lambs 22kg to 24kg sold $13/head cheaper to average 889c/kg cwt.

A reduced field of export buyers were in attendance and competing over a mixed quality yarding.

Lambs 26kg to 30kg sold to steady competition from both northern and southern buyers to average 960c/kg cwt. Lambs estimated to weight more than 30kg carcass weight sold to strong southern competition with prices jumping $28/head to average 981c/kg cwt.

It was a mixed quality yarding of mutton that was offered to a smaller group of buyers. Heavy ewes sold to very weak demand making from $165 to $230/head to average 604c to 639c/kg cwt. Trade sheep were in reasonable supply selling at $135 to $161/head.

Heavy Dorper ewes returning to the paddock sold from $268 to $274/head.

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