Lamb prices have continued their stellar run leading into winter gaining another $5-$10 by the end of last week at all saleyards.
Nearly all classes of lambs were quoted dearer by the National Livestock Reporting Service thanks to a mix of strong processor, restocker and feedlot demand.
Heavy lambs were a highlight lifting $10 at both southern and NSW saleyards.
The biggest offering was at Wagga where two thirds of the 28,0000 lambs yarded weighed over 28kg carcass weight.
The heaviest lambs sold to $322.20 and was one of numerous sales above $300.
Heavy lambs 24-26kg sold to strong demand from Coles and Safeway which elevated rates by $8.
The dearer trends for this weight range stretched from South Australia all the way to Warwick in Queensland.
Meanwhile trade lambs rallied at both Wagga and Griffith with tightening supplies starting to impact.
Quality lambs 21-24kg were rewarded with price rises of up to $10.
Shorter skinned trade lambs topped at $227 with the bulk making from $202-$225 to average 911c/kg cwt.
Mutton prices also lifted over the past couple of weeks on the back of limited supplies.
The heaviest crossbred ewes recorded a top price of $291 jumping $14 to average 721c/kg.
Lamb prices have started the week producing mixed price trends. Trades lambs holding their gains of last week while heavy export lambs lost some traction.
At Bendigo there was an increase of 2000 lambs while sheep supplies lifted by 1000 in a yarding of 17,000.
The NLRS said the market was unchanged to $8 cheaper.
Trade lamb demand was solid, and prices were quality driven, with buyers favouring shorter skinned fresh lambs.
Trade lambs made from $180-$220 with well-presented runs of 24kg lambs averaging $210. The bulk of the trade lambs averaged 850-900c/kg cwt.
In the heavy export run not all buyers operated.
The main market driver, Fletchers International, who generally dominates the sale, didn't make a purchase and other processors were reluctant at times to bid.
The patchy competition meant rates came off the boil $5-$8. The bulk of the heavy lambs sold at $240-$265 with a single pen of 25 head topping at $306.
Mutton was the price mover on the day as mutton supplies remain tight. Heavy crossbred ewes sold to $264.
The main run of sheep with adequate fat cover averaged 680-730c/kg cwt.
Ballarat lamb market on Tuesday produced another week of stellar prices across trade and heavy categories.
Trade lambs surged $8-$10 with the well-shaped shorter skinned lambs breaking through the 1000c/kg cwt barrier on several occasions to average 940c/kg cwt.
Heavy lambs gained $9, topping at $322 to average 843c/kg cwt.