The past few weeks has seen a significant shift in supply trends, spurred on by a couple of factors. The most obvious has been the drop in prime lamb numbers at northern selling centres.
A direct result of the substantial decline is attributed to harvest and new season lambs supplies now almost at an end. A prime example was Griffith, where only 1300 lambs were penned.
In contrast, southern Victorian numbers continue to climb. Ballarat’s sale was close to a record numbers, with more than 50,000 penned. Lamb prices continued to firm last week, as is traditionally the case leading into the Christmas break.
With three weeks left of sales, the national trade lamb indicator is 17¢ up on last year and 11¢ on the previous calendar year record set in 2011, averaging 561¢/kg. Heavy lambs averaged 565¢/kg cwt, up 17¢ year-on-year and 36¢ from 2011.
At the close of markets last week, the eastern states trade lamb indicator had lifted to 526¢/kg cwt.
At Hamilton on Monday, medium and heavy trade lambs accounted for the bulk of the better finished lambs. They held firm to average 496¢/kg cwt, selling at $112-$140. Heavy 4 score export lambs sold to softer trends of $3-$4, making from $135-$172. Restockers and feedlots dominated these categories. Light immature lambs fetched $71-$88 while well-bred lambs with weight and frame sold at $103-$116 to average $113.80.
Bendigo’s market opened $1-$5 weaker on Monday, a combination of hot weather and scarcity of quality meant prices eased. Although the market was softer for lambs showing dryness and lacking finish, where the market settled was still very good. The best quality heavy shorn trade lambs reached 550¢/kg cwt, with many sales at $111-$135. Most buyers had a preference for shorn lambs, with National Livestock Reporting Service noting that longer woolly lambs were presenting drier in the skin.
Heavy lambs failed to attract steady competition as export processors begin to wind down. Heavy lambs topped at $170 to average 509¢/kg cwt. Restocker and feedlot competition put a floor in most sales of secondary light weight lambs, selling mostly at $70-$115.
There were positive trends at Ballarat, with competition solid for better quality new season shorn or grain fed lambs. Select pens of extra heavy lambs made $145-$185 to average 497¢/kg.
Top quality drafts of young lambs 20-22kg cwt pushed values over 540¢/kg cwt, but such sales were isolated.
A smaller than usual mixed selection of lighter weight lambs suitable for restocking sold to strong competition, with prices generally unchanged. Lambs returning to the paddock sold at $76-$123.
