The first of the new season lambs have begun to appear regularly from the state’s north and the southern Riverina.
And while most lambs are reportedly weighing OK, some are showing the effects of the cold, wet weather.
Generally, old lamb numbers have slowed with most producers now at the tail end. Another snag has been constant rain in the Riverina, with the Hay district reporting 78mm in July.
Pasture paddocks are now sodden, causing difficulties for producers to move vehicles over properties and likely to remain so for some time.
Agents say lamb marking has been placed on the back-burner until more favourable conditions prevail.
However, the mood among sheep producers is upbeat, with multiple births reported and a good body of feed into spring.
Some are planning to run wethers through this year, with abundance of feed and wool prices a great incentive.
The shortfall of supplies last week changed young lamb prices, sending rates surging $10. It shows the market is still struggling to find balance between supply and demand.
Lamb prices at Wagga were boosted by a deluge of rain, with competition intensifying against reduced supplies. The number of trade buyers showing interest in young lambs increased and processors lifted rates by $10, with trade and heavy young lambs making $124-$175 to average 667¢/kg cwt.
Major domestic trade buyers still had their sights set on the better finished old trade lambs. Prices spiked $10-$14 to average 685¢/kg cwt.
Talk of a wet spring lifted competition for a single consignment of 2000 new season lambs in various light weight ranges. The vendor was well rewarded, with the top draft of 239 head estimated to weigh 16-17kg cwt making $113. The second run of 504 sold at $94, with the lighter immature pens selling down to a low of $60.
Monday’s Bendigo market of 7532 lambs produced varying results, with the winter affected yarding causing prices to rise and fall. National Livestock Reporting Service (NLRS) said the better presented trade and heavy export lambs were firm to a few dollars dearer.
There were a few lead pens of new season lambs, and these sold to strong demand.
The better quality new season lambs made from $136-$177.50 to average 655¢/kg cwt. The balance of the lighter weight young lambs returned $114-$126.
On Tuesday, numbers at Ballarat fell to about 5000 lambs and 2191 sheep. Numbers and quality have been on the decline this past month. NLRS quoted the better trade and export lambs unchanged to a few dollars dearer. Trade lambs made from $114-$178 to average 653- 695¢/kg cwt.
