The lamb market continues its changeover from old stock to new season lambs.
Saleyards from Bendigo and into the north at Wagga, Forbes, Corowa and Dubbo are now yarding new season lamb in greater numbers.
Based on National Livestock Reporting Service data, the trade sucker lambs have been working out at 600 - 630 cents per kilogram carcase weight.
Buyers in recent weeks have again dropped the value of sucker skins to $1-$2.
This is linked to uncertainty in China and a general move away from clothing and other items made of natural fibres due to cheaper alternatives such as synthetic products.
Another factor emerging is minimal buying competition for new season lamb skins, caused by a major company shut down due to COVID-19.
Buyers said there is little hope of skin prices improving.
In dollars per head terms buyers are now rarely paying more than $200 for heavy lambs with major export companies still not fully active.
The better presented heavy lambs grain finished at Wagga (30-40kg cwt) made from 168-$196/head, averaging 500c/kg.
Looking at the overall picture, lamb slaughter continues to track at seasonally low levels due to the wind down in production at Victorian processing plants.
The mutton market found a gear towards the end of last week and prices rallied up to $20 for heavy ewes.
The strength of the mutton market is connected to the low sheep numbers across the eastern seaboard.
In opening sales on Monday, the lamb and sheep markets fired up with price rises of $10-$30 evident at saleyards in Victoria and NSW.
Driving the markets was strong domestic and export support for new season lambs while old heavy export lamb demand ramped up as supplies dwindle.
Dearer trends were reported at Bendigo, with old heavy lambs jumping by $33 to record a top price of $210
New season trade lambs were outstanding, and price improved $10 to average 604c/kg cwt.
The heavy sucker portion made from $160-$190 averaging 625c/kg cwt. Sheep prices rallied too lifting $12-$23 with heavy mutton averaging 425-525c/kg cwt
Similar price results were recorded at Ballarat on Tuesday in a smaller yarding of 6127 lambs and 2800 sheep.
Despite less buyers, processor demand was up $12-$14 for trade lambs selling at $137-$157 to average 674c/kg cwt.
Heavy old lambs gained $15-$22 making $145-$206, averaging 559-610c/kg cwt.
Sheep rates surged $15-$18 with trade sheep averaging 573c/kg, while heavy mutton sold at $150-$195
At the close of selling on Monday the national heavy lamb indicator was listed at 601c/kg carcass weight down 10c week-on-week.
The trade lamb indicator dipped 16c to rest at 641c/kg cwt.
- Leann Dax is an NLRS market reporter.
