Australian lambs face price fluctuation in Victoria, NSW yards

Prices remain under pressure, with restockers and feedlots providing some support for lighter lambs.

Last week, price dynamics exhibited a mixed pattern, reflecting the trend observed throughout most of the month.

The Eastern States Trade Lamb Indicator experienced a dip, dropping back to the same price it was four weeks ago to sit at 458 cents a kilogram carcase weight.

The National Heavy Lamb Indicator softened to 483c/kg, registering a 20c/kg decrease within the last week.

Despite this overall subdued performance, price variations persist based on factors such as weight, fat cover, muscle score and how many companies are operating at a sale.

A notable instance highlighting these discrepancies occurred in Wagga Wagga, NSW, last Thursday.

The yarding was characterised by a lack of weight, with only one pen exceeding 30kg cwt.

This resulted in a weaker outcome with a $10 a head drop to average 473c/kg cwt.

Trade lambs also witnessed considerable variance in the past week, influenced by quality factors.

Secondary lambs or those exhibiting dryness experienced a loss of up to $10, while better-bred and well-finished lambs maintained their value more effectively.

For instance, at Bendigo on Monday, the market was described as plain by Meat & Livestock Australia's National Livestock Reporting Service, with limited weight and fat cover across the offering.

Inconsistency in the lambs' quality contributed to significant price fluctuations, with lambs facing a price drop of $5-$10.

The absence of three domestic buyers affected the market dynamics.

Despite the challenges, heavy lambs with a limited selection fared better, albeit experiencing a $3 decrease, selling within the range of 470-520c/kg cwt.

In contrast, the mutton market featured an offering of 4150 sheep, predominantly comprising ewes.

The competition for heavy mutton centred around a single buyer from Fletcher International, Dubbo, NSW.

Heavy crossbred ewes experienced a notable drop, selling below the 100c/kg mark and fetching prices ranging from $24-$28.

Notably, an outstanding pen of Merino ewes with a big fleece commanded a top price of $50.

Trade sheep encountered robust demand, fetching prices between $20-$35, irrespective of their weight.

This signals a stronger market for trade sheep, reflecting consistent buyer interest across various trade weight categories.

At Ballarat. a better-quality yarding and more buyers meant prices improved $1-$3 for trade lambs, while heavy lambs gained $4 recording a top price of $184 to average 529c/kg cwt.