Lamb markets in Victoria have become somewhat volatile from week-to-week while NSW continues to stay firm on the back of rising numbers.
Bendigo's offering on Monday of 14,000 lambs was slightly higher than the week before as producers offloaded stock due to much dearer trends of up to $20 a head on the last sale.
Price fell notably over all categories with no restockers operating to put a floor on lighter weights under 20 kilograms carcase weight.
A rise in skin values helped soften the blow with some skins now worth up to $8 for the best quality and longer lengths.
Better quality heavier lambs made up much of the good quality at Bendigo with plenty of pens of super big heavy lambs on offer to buyers.
These topped at $298 for a pen estimated to weigh between 38kg and 40kg.
The feature run of big lambs ranged from $235 to $268 to return about 752 cents a kilogram cwt.
Lighter export lambs 26-30kg made from $211 to $236 while heavy trade types 24-26kg sold at $162-$210, showing a cheaper trend of $10.
Genuine trade lambs weighing 20-24kg fell $12 to $24 to average 786c/kg cwt.
The mutton market was a highlight and continued to surge ahead with nearly 6000 sheep on offer.at Wagga Wagga, NSW, last week.
Heavy mutton sold from $190-$267 with heavy Merino wethers keenly sought after by.processors.
Heavy wethers sold from $200 to $244 averaging 691c/kg.
A run of heavy crossbred ewes averaged 609c/kg.
Trade sheep averaged 709c/kg cwt.
Tightening supplies of trade lambs are starting to impact domestic processors in NSW.
Quality trade lambs were rewarded at Corowa, NSW, with prices firm to a shade dearer while unfinished lambs sold $2-$3 easier.
Domestic weight lambs 22-24kg sold from $189 to $209 to average 848c/kg cwt.
Merino trade lambs 22-24kg sold $9 dearer making $195 to $204.
The market top of $249 was paid for a pen of extra heavy lambs weighing an estimated 35kg cwt and carrying a skin of $8.
Most other heavy exports ranged from $200-$230 to average 793c/kg cwt.
Mutton prices also lifted $3-$10 with heavy sheep averaging 616c/kg cwt.
Numbers of older lambs heading to saleyards are likely to increase in the coming weeks in NSW as new lambs hit the ground.
Cashed-up farmers have benefited from plenty of feed and a good cropping season and now will start to consign their older stock.
It is a different story in Victoria, however, where the colder weather is likely to prevent an influx of lambs to saleyards like what producers will notice in NSW.
- Leann Dax is an NLRS market reporter.
