The prediction of an autumn break last week helped boost demand for lambs at northern saleyards.
The tight supplies of well-finished lambs and mutton saw rates surge $10-$30 at the close on Friday.
A case in point was at Wagga on Thursday where heavy mutton rates surged and was quoted $20-$30 dearer by the National Livestock Reporting Service (NLRS).
At Wagga heavy Merino ewes regularly made from $144-$190.60 to average 488c/kg cwt. Heavy cross bred ewes were keenly sought by Fletchers International Dubbo who paid the top price of $182, while other sale ranged from $122-$181. Price results for trade sheep were $5-$18 dearer to average 450-500c/kg cwt.
Bidding for heavy lambs was strong with lamb 26-30kg cwt gaining $15 while the heavier portion 30kg plus jumped $11 recording a top price of $226. Storms and heavy rain across NSW and Victoria have spurred on processors who again have to pay more to secure supplies.
At Bendigo on Monday lamb numbers lifted by more than 3,000 to total 12,386. The best price recorded was $229 for a small pen of lambs weighing 38-40kg National Livestock Reporting Service (NLRS) noted a similar weighted pen last week made $203. The balance of the heavy lambs gained $16-$22 fetching $162-$220.
Bidding for trade lambs was strong with rates $5-$8 dearer averaging 640c/kg cwt.
An offering of Dohne lambs from Coonong station in the Riverina made to $178 and averaged $167 over a draft of 2,000 according to the (NLRS). Light weight lambs to the processors sold at $102-$120
A shortage of mutton saw prices literally bounce $15-$49 with Merino ewes enjoying the biggest price hike. Heavy Merino ewes sold from $155-$186 to average a whooping 548c/kg cwt. Trade sheep sold from $74-$136 averaging 463-510c/kg cwt.
Despite the lift in numbers at Corowa there were still some good lambs coming through, with the bulk weighing an estimated 20 to 30 kilograms carcass weight.
The improved quality yarding spurred the trade lamb market to track $10-$13 dearer benefited by strong supermarket competition. Trade lambs fetched $136-$168 to average 636c/kg cwt.
There was a lift in extra heavy lamb numbers and competition. Heavy lambs sold $7-$10 dearer making from $157-$220.
Lamb prices have taken another step up at Ballarat on Tuesday amid widespread rain over the weekend. Rates generally lifted $5-$10.
Helping drive lamb prices was strengthening export demand ahead of what is shaping to be a steep hill for processors, as supplies tighten heading into winter.