Lamb and mutton markets will enter winter on a high, with prices being driven by lower supplies.
Prices kept climbing last week and great prices were recorded at some sales, with Griffith lamb market topping at $250 for heavy export lambs.
Meat & Livestock Australia livestock said lamb saleyard throughput was 30,000 lower week-on-week, and also from the corresponding week last year. At the lighter end of the market increased restocking support, with the prediction of widespread rain, was a primary driver for a lift in rates at most markets.
A good percentage of lambs 20kg and below were sold back to the paddock last week. The surge in demand has been witnessed from CTLX Carcoar through to Naracoorte in South Australia, but the biggest spikes was at Ballarat, where store buyers paid up to $150. Mutton rates have also been a standout, with prices pushed to levels not seen before, according to the National Livestock Reporting Service (NLRS) data.
At Wagga, several pens of cross bred ewes sold from $198-$204.20¢/kg. The sheep market there was quoted $8-$15 dearer, with the bulk of the offering making 500-545¢/kg cwt.
Producers weren’t disappointed in opening markets this week, with rates jumping $10-$15 at Bendigo, Corowa and Dubbo.
At Bendigo, tight supplies of well finished trade weights and heavy export lambs supported the dearer price trends. Trade lambs gained $11 and there were plenty of lambs estimated above 700¢/kg cwt. The bulk of trade lambs sold from $124-$185.
Wet weather added to supply issues for export lambs, NLRS noting a few consignments of direct to works were a no show. This aided the rate increase for heavy lambs, with the price bouncing $15-$30. Prices reached a top of $241 with other drafts selling from $161-$233. Restocker demand kept prices high for lighter weight lambs, with store lambs making $82-$141.
Processors continue to set a hot pace for mutton, with the market $7-$8 dearer with the exception of heavy cross-bred ewes – coming off a record high of $200. Trade sheep sold at $95-$146, while heavy sheep made from $125-$190.
A surge in numbers at Ballarat did nothing to stem rates in a yarding of 26,736 lambs and 3799 sheep. Prices continue to reward producers with gains for trade lamb of $2-$4, making from $133-$175 to average 685¢/kg cwt. Heavy lamb lifted $4-$8, fetching $172-$245.
Restockers and lot feeders continued their love affair for younger lambs. paying up to a whopping $153 for lambs to feed on, while restockers forked out a top price $150. Trade and heavy sheep were unchanged to $7 dearer, averaging 487¢/kg cwt.
