MARKET strength was evident at the Wagga sheep and lamb sale when prices increased by as much as $8.
There was a large portion of store lambs on offer which met with restocker competition.
Vendors sold a total of 34,000 sheep and lambs and the quality was described as fair.
It was the usual group of buyers who attended and all buyers operated.
Well-bred second cross store lambs were well supplied and restockers were active over all weights.
Store orders were from Albury, Cootamundra, Forbes, Corowa and local areas. New season trade lambs were in limited numbers and sold to stronger demand over all categories.
Well finished medium and heavy trade lambs were $5 to $8/head dearer for all well finished pens with odd sales lifting above 600c/kg cwt.
The better finished lambs made from $130 to $150/head to average 550c to 578c/kg cwt.
Shorn heavy trade lambs averaged 555c/kg cwt. Light trade lambs prices increased $5 due to much stronger restocker demand to average $118.60/head.
Immature lamb prices were unchanged, averaging $66.50/head.
Well-bred second cross lambs with weight and frame, returning to the paddock sold $7 dearer making from $98 to $110/head.
Feedlot buyers paid from $100 to $120.60/head.
Heavy and extra heavy export lambs were in limited numbers, with all pens caught in bidding duels as buyers scrambled for supplies.
Heavy lambs made from $144 to $168.20/head.
The mutton market sold to steady demand, with prices generally firm to a few cents easier.
Trade sheep were well supplied, selling from $67 to $96/head to average 326c/kg cwt. Heavy crossbred and Merino ewes sold $2/head easier, with most selling between 304c and 353c/kg cwt.
