The mutton market is heading towards stronger prices, with the auction system across the country opening after Easter on a very strong note.
Price gains of $10 to $20 were recorded for ewes and wethers at major selling centres with mutton at times equalling heavy lamb carcase weight rates.
Mutton was a highlight at both Wagga Wagga, NSW, and Griffith, NSW, late last week with Meat & Livestock Australia's National Livestock Reporting service reporting much dearer results at both centres.
Big crossbred ewes sold to $267 at Wagga Wagga with many heavy sheep selling from $190-$250.
The quote for good lines of mutton was 674-744 cents a kilogram carcase weight.
At Griffith heavy crossbred ewes reached $246 and averaged $235 a head.
Supply is the main driver behind the strengthening mutton rates, with sheep numbers remaining low at sale yards despite the time of year.
The lamb market is performing on quality with buyers still prepared to support the best trade lambs in shorter skins showing plenty of shape.
However, buyers have recently pulled back from woollier types presenting in drier skins.
Mixed results at regional markets
The lamb market showed tentative signs in Victoria of an easing trend for trade rates.
Meanwhile, NSW produced mixed trends in opening markets after the Easter long weekend break.
At Bendigo on Monday quality was plainer with a lot of lambs off stubble and dryland pastures, according to the National Livestock Reporting Service.
A fair percentage of lambs were dry and lacking overall finish.
Competition from exporters was noticeably down compared to the previous sale, while not all major domestic buyers showed up.
Prices for trade lambs were quoted $5-$6 easier, with the dryer types dragging rates back to average 792c/kg cwt.
In the heavy export market section, the biggest lambs weighing more than 30kg cwt sold to a top of $276, gaining $2 and averaging 760c/kg cwt.
Lambs weighing 26-30kg struggled to attract all buyers throughout the sale but managed to hold firm making from $200 to a top of $243
Restockers stepped up pushing prices up to $20 a head higher.
Lambs with weight and frame but needed more finishing made to $201 while the general run returning to the paddock or to feed on sold at $164 to $183
Despite not all buyers staying for the mutton sale prices spiked in robust competition for heavy sheep.
Price gains of $6-$11 were recorded with plenty of sales over 700c/kg to average 673c/kg.
Trade sheep averaged 664-721c/kg cwt.
- Leann Dax is an NLRS market reporter.