Signals of a market rise were evident at major saleyards last week despite sheep and lamb numbers increasing in northern regions following rain.
Heavy lambs sold to $305 and heavy sheep to $255 at Wagga Wagga, NSW, to headline a sale that was $10-$13 dearer, according to the National Livestock Reporting Service
In opening markets on Monday all major sales posted gains.
The lamb market outshone the mutton market this week with both domestic and export processors keen to secure stock.
The going was tough at Bendigo in a larger yarding 14,000 lambs and 4500 sheep.
A plainer presentation described as a typical winter yarding forced buyers to bid strongly for the correct types.
Trade lamb prices were erratic and the better presented classes were up to $5 a head dearer selling from $187 to $230 to average 908 cents a kilogram carcase weight.
The dearer trend was linked to supply, with fewer trade types available in the sought-after range 20-24kg cwt that many top-end domestic buyers prefer.
The Eastern States Trade Lamb Indicator is operating at a premium of 116c/kg compared to the same time in 2020, sitting at 875c/kg cwt.
On the heavier side of the lambs, Fletchers International returned to the sale and participated in the export run after a two-week absence due to maintenance.
There were other exporters who were quiet or did not make a purchase.
Despite this the underlying demand for heavy lambs ramped up a notch.
Prices were $5-10 dearer for big super-sized lambs 30kg plus which sold from $260-$290 to average 804c/kg cwt.
Meanwhile, lambs 26-30kg sold from $240-258 to average 852c/kg cwt.
The sheep sale was dearer with the better covered crossbred and Merino ewes ranging from 680-720c/kg cwt.
The lamb market at Corowa, NSW, on Monday gave signs of shaking off its winter doldrums with prices dearer in all the categories.
Restockers also joined in participating in a good yarding of light lambs to turnout.
The highlight throughout the sale was heavy trade lambs, with major domestic processors giving a master class of buying to other companies.
Neat shorter-skinned lambs attracted premium rates with the better-covered lambs selling from $211-$228, averaging $7-$10 dearer.
Heavy trade 24-26kg gained $5.
Extra heavy export weights were unchanged to $7 dearer to average 782c/kg cwt.
The sheep market lost its way slipping $10-$23 with trade and heavy mutton averaging 654-699c/kg cwt.
Trends at Ballarat were dearer as the market gained $6-$15, with extra heavy lambs enjoying the biggest increase to average 826c/kg cwt.
- Leann Dax is an NLRS market reporter.
