Lamb prices have continued to trend upwards in the past week on the back of a disrupted selling program and lower numbers yarded.
Supply coming forward and uncertainty over future supplies had a positive impact on buyer sentiment, while the outbreak of the coronavirus in China and its potential impact, provided some doubts.
Following a dearer trend at physical markets last week and a public holiday on Monday, processors were again keen to source suitable stock in both the lamb and mutton pens.
Uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus impact on exports saw heavy mutton prices at Ballarat ease by up to $20 to $30 a head in places.
Meat & Livestock Australia's National Livestock Reporting Service (NLRS) reported that medium weight sheep sold close to last week's strong prices, with the lighter weight sheep and the heavier sheep easing to $10 and more in places.
The NLRS reported heavy crossbred ewes were selling from $127 to $224, to average approximately 540 cents a kilogram carcase weight.
Fletcher International managing director Roger Fletcher said the doubts around exports to China were "just another challenge".
The situation in China had seen a build-up of product on the wharves that could not be shifted.
Mr Fletcher said the company was trying to adjust to the situation, "as we do every day in our business".
TB White & Sons director and auctioneer Gerard White, Ballarat, said shorn lambs topped at $280 and the second draft at $260.
Mr White said those lambs weighed 34kg and were about $10-$12 dearer, while the run of shorn trade lambs was $10 dearer.
"The main driver is supply with a large number of suckers sold early on," he said.
"We drew for 19,000 and only came up with 16,000.
"A lot of the feeder lambs are not ready to market yet.
"There has been a bit of rain and most restockers have got enough feed to hold onto lambs."
He said numbers were not predicted to lift any time soon.
Graeme Nicholson, Elders, said the first five pens of their run had made an estimated 760-800c/kg and weighed 31-33kg or $250-$259.
All those lambs had been bought in Ballarat in September-October last year for about $150.
Mr Nicholson said the lambs had not been on grain but run in "spud country" on lucerne, clover or rape.
Prices per head for those lambs were similar to the previous week, considering the top run were heavier than the previous week.
Hamilton's mutton sale last Thursday was dearer on a yarding of 14,484, or 7648 fewer.
The NLRS reported mutton was $10 to $15 up.
