THE lamb market may have developed the shakes over the past week but the store market remains strong.
There had been an undercurrent of thought that prices may settle around the 570-600-cents-a-kilogram carcase-weight mark but this hasn't yet happened.
Lamb kill numbers have increased 19 per cent week-on-week to 170,536 head.
The significant increases came out of NSW, with supplies lifting 23pc to create numbers that are notably higher for this time of year.
At Wagga Wagga, NSW, last Thursday, the rates for both trade and export lambs buckled $10-$17, with some sales of extra-heavy lamb $22 lower, despite tightening supplies of well-finished lambs in southern markets.
Heavy export lambs averaged 510c/kg while new-season trade lambs averaged 565c/kg cwt.
Blake's & Co Wagga Wagga auctioneer Mark Logan said playing a part in the price correction was the sheer weight of numbers in northern markets.
"The Wagga market also had a lot of Merino lambs penned which were unseasonably late - generally most of the Merino lambs here are sold in June," Mr Logan said.
"Even with sucker values coming back, we are still enjoying good prices, with values exceeding last year's price per kilogram.
"There is some apprehension, owing to the mild winter and good feed supplies, that sucker lambs may come in over-fat.
"It won't concern exporters but it will affect supermarket competition."
In both Victoria and NSW a considerable number of contract lambs are still in the system, and from all reports these lambs will be finished being processed by the end of July.
The end-of-contract lambs will increase major processor competition at the saleyard, which has a knock-on effect at weekly prime markets.
This week has seen a dramatic change in price trends with lamb prices retreating further in opening sales on Monday, spurred on by the increase in supplies in northern markets.
Dubbo, NSW, recorded a yarding of 44,000 lambs and 10,500 sheep - extraordinarily high for a winter yarding.
On average, values over most weights and grades slipped $15-$25.
The general consensus among buyers and agents is that prices will continue to weaken, assuming supplies remain high.
New-season trade lambs fell $15-$20 and made $104-$123 to average 491-509c/kg cwt.
Heavy lambs were hard hit, with prices tumbling anywhere by $16-$29, averaging 459-496c/kg cwt.
Mutton sale was least effected with prices mostly $5-$6 lower, av 317-329c/kg cwt.
Not surprisingly the Bendigo market was also affected by the cheaper trend with no real pattern in lamb prices.
The market was unpredictable and struggled to find its momentum.
Plainer quality was a factor in the varied results.
Well-finished new-season lambs averaged 504-556c/kg with a single pen reaching a top price of $139.60.
Old trade lambs eased $7-$14 to average 533c/kg cwt.
Mutton prices also dipped, with medium and heavy sheep generally $5-$10 cheaper to average 330-369c/kg cwt.
The Ballarat lamb market had the winter blues across all weights and grades.
The plainer quality affected domestic demand while the export scene remained sluggish in general.
Heavy trade lambs sold up to $11 cheaper and made $112-$134 while extra-heavy lambs averaged 488c/kg cwt, reaching a top price of $140.
Merino ewe mutton sold $5-$7 lower but in contrast Merino wethers gained $8, av 336c/kg cwt.
