The lamb market threw up some strong price signals late last week, with numbers, weather conditions and restocker support influencing robust outcomes across all lamb and sheep categories.
Rates climbed 118 cents a kilogram during May to rest at 888c/kg cwt nationally, making it the dearest autumn lamb markets the industry has witnessed.
The wet weather in NSW last week appears to be having some affect with restockers and processors upping the ante, amid forecasts of dwindling supplies and more rain.
At Wagga Wagga, NSW, store lambs and trade weight types attracted a big following, with the buying power generated from Finley, NSW, Cowra, NSW, Tamworth, NSW, and SA.
Rates surged $10-$20 a head for well-bred types, with buyers paying from $145-$194 for lambs with weight and frame.
Light weight types sold at $110-$135.
Despite one major domestic processor not operating fully at the market, rain gave the trade lamb market a boost, with prices climbing $10 in a significantly bigger yarding of 40,000 lambs.
Trade lambs made from $170-$223 to average 940c/kg.
Heavy lamb prices rallied again surging $18-$30, topping at $337 to average 913c/kg cwt.
There was plenty of interest in the mutton sale, with Fletchers International dominating most categories.
Heavy mutton topped at $269.
The better sales of heavy sheep made from $178-$253 to average 650-720c/kg cwt.
Light and medium grades fluctuated with skin quality determining prices.
Light and medium grades ranged from $110-$169.
The lamb market marched passed the national heavy lamb record at Griffith on Friday, when lambs weighing approximately 44kg cwt recorded a top price of $345.
The bulk of the heavy lambs were up to $40 dearer averaging 914c/kg cwt.
Processors were forced to bid strongly for a share of the heavy Merino lambs paying $225-$256.
Trade lambs edge $3-$10 higher averaging 902c/kg cwt.
Lamb prices on Monday were cheaper across the three major markets, Bendigo, Dubbo, NSW, and Corowa, NSW.
Price rates for good quality trade lambs dipped $20-$30 as the industry heads towards a winter shortage of quality and weight.
An example of this was at Corowa in the opening sales on Monday, where prices fell $10-$40 with major domestic and export processors selective when making a purchase.
Looking at the big picture, the Bendigo and Ballarat lamb sales followed the same weaker trends experienced at markets in NSW.
Prices for any well finished medium and heavy weight trade lambs tracked $10-$30 cheaper, with Bendigo hardest hit.
Heavy lambs buckled $16-$36, making from $243-$284, averaging 790-893c/kg cwt.
