LAMB markets have continued to be somewhat unpredictable, with prices fluctuating depending on quality and supply.
The one positive trend this week was strong competition and slightly higher prices for any better-quality second-cross store lambs 16 to 20 kilograms carcase weight.
In northern markets, supplies of these are beginning to contract, with Forbes, Queanbeyan and Bathurst, NSW, agents now entering the fray further south.
Opportunity feeders and restockers paid to $98 for the lighter trade-weight lambs.
Numbers at major selling centres in the south varied, with Bendigo numbers down substantially and Ballarat's market rising significantly. While the declining quality of fresh young lambs at northern markets kept a lid on any rate rises, with processors discounting lambs with dry skins or seed contamination.
At the Wagga Wagga and Griffith markets in NSW, prices were $2-$6 lower, with drafts of dry longer-wool lambs hardest to sell.
Select pens of heavy grain-finished shorn lambs, which offered buyers weight and yield, commanded good prices and made $102-$131 to average 467 cents/kg carcase weight.
Top-quality drafts of young fresh trade lambs in good clean skins pushed above 505c/kg cwt; however, such prices were isolated, with most sales $2-$4 cheaper averaging 475c/kg cwt.
It was the lighter-weight Merino lambs which bore the brunt of a hefty price correction of $10, with the trend a reflection of the smaller contingent of buyers operating across this category and the plainer quality.
Agents said older off-type Merino lambs were becoming increasingly difficult to sell and were dragging values down.
The price gap between heavy and light mutton has narrowed considerably, with the only difference between the categories being a substantial weight variation.
Buyers received more bang for their buck when purchasing heavy sheep, with prices av 266c/kg, while light and medium grades av 242-258c/kg
At Dubbo, NSW, lamb numbers dropped by 7000, with only 14,100 lambs penned, along with 5800 sheep.
The reason for the significant decline in supplies was the commencement of harvest across the region and the timely rain which had fallen the previous week.
The reduction in supplies helped stabilise values, with heavy trade lambs firm to a few dollars dearer, av 474c/kg.
Heavy lambs were thin on the ground and made $122-$130, av 459c/kg cwt.
The mutton market contained no good lines of sheep this week and prices were generally $4-$11 softer, with the mixed-quality offering av 262-284c/kg cwt.
At Bendigo, the lamb market opened to mixed price trends.
The National Livestock Reporting Service (NLRS) said quality was noticeably plainer with more secondary lines offered.
Prices for trade lambs varied depending on quality, with the well-finished trade and export lambs selling $3-$4 dearer and most of the better quality drafts fetched $105-$116 to av 451c/kg cwt.
The diminishing supplies of heavy lambs helped kick prices along by $1-$3 to av 453c/kg cwt.
Store lambs this week lacked southern competition and prices were generally $5-$6 lower, with Kilmore, Shepparton, Yarrawonga and local buyers paying $48-$88.
The market for lambs at Ballarat showed a variance in price trends for the lighter weight classes, with most processors providing strong competition for the better-finished trade and heavy lambs.
Neat well-shaped trade pens topped at $122, gaining $3-$5 to average 463c/kg cwt.
Heavy lambs were $1-$2 dearer and made $118-$134 to av 441c/kg cwt.
There was a mixed selection of store lambs offered and overall the market was unchanged to a few dollars better for the well-bred drafts and buyers paid $69-$98.
There was good weight in the mutton yarding and the best heavy sheep lifted by $2-$5, av 262c/kg cwt.
Medium-weight drafts sold $3-$4 higher to av 278c/kg cwt.
