New season young lamb prices have opened strongly in the state’s north making to a high of $176 a head at Bendigo on Monday.
Offering some 6500 head of new season lambs – Bendigo’s largest penning so far this spring – the market was quoted $5 to $10/head easier on the back of a smaller 2300 head penning last week.
National Livestock Reporting Service estimated the top priced a pen to be around 27 kilograms. It was one of just three sales over $170/head as the main drafts of trade weights made $132-$165/head and light young lambs, $60-$120/head.
The service said a wide spread in carcase prices were paid due to how the market varied from start to finish. An estimated range of 590-630c/kg cwt covered most sales, although there were much higher results at times, it said.
One agent from Horsham bought light weight young store lambs paying $99-$109/head.
The selling agents were extremely happy with the result, given the cheaper trend of the market. Chris Nevins, PF Nevins & Co. said results were on a par to last year.
“We’ve presented similar quality and similar weights for our first drafts, and have received similar prices compared to 12 months ago” Mr Nevins said.
Selling the market toppers were the Baxter family, Leslie Lodge, Picola. Auctioneer Nigel Starrick, Elders, said it was the Baxters’ second draft with their first draft sold last week at $172.50
“I would have say today’s lambs were slightly heavy and a little fresher in quality – so I’d quote our market firm”, Mr Starrick said.
Agents also agreed the quality of the new season’s stock was variable.
“Some of our clients have been required to wean their lambs because of the frosts and the cold weather, ” said experienced stockman Rupert Fawcett Snr, Ellis Nuttall & Co.
“This has been especially noticeable among the older age groups of ewes.”
Nick Byrne, Rodwells, said competition for young lambs was reasonably good, given most buyers had yet to change from processing old lambs.
“If your young lambs were in the supermarket slot they sold well. But outside these weight ranges, especially to the heavier side competition is just okay,” he said.