At the start of the week, lamb prices showed strength in the south, while in the north of NSW, the market was more restrained.
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In Victoria, the week began on a positive note, with trade lamb prices in Bendigo rising by $4-$5 a head.
This increase was driven by an improved selection of shorn trade lambs, which reached up to $185, reflecting better weight and quality.
Heavy young lambs, weighing between 26-30 kilograms, sold for $175-$215, averaging 711 cents a kilogram carcase weight.
Lambs exceeding 30kg sold for between $215-$259.
There was 17,900 head yarded at Bendigo, including 7000 sheep and 10,900 lambs.
In Ballarat, the market featured an excellent lineup of grain-assisted lambs and the typical lightweight tail end.
There was 36,442 head offered, including 8844 sheep and 27,598 lambs.
All the regular processors were present, contributing to a strong market environment.
Bidding was particularly competitive for well-shaped, shorn lambs with adequate fat cover, which sold for 760-800c/kg.
Heavy export lambs saw a price increase of $7, selling for $176-$280 and averaging 720c/kg.
However, restockers and feedlotters showed little interest this week, causing a $10-$14 decline in prices.
Store lambs with some weight and frame traded between $68-$145.
The mutton market saw significant activity, boosted by strong demand for heavy ewes and increased competition in the lighter-weight categories.
As the sale progressed, the market gained momentum, with heavy ewes selling for $25 more, averaging 380-444c/kg.
Lamb prices at Forbes, NSW, have remained steady, with trade lambs seeing slight gains of $1-$2.
There was 24,010 head yarded, including 4500 sheep and 19,510 lambs.
The better-quality trade lambs sold between $143-$178, averaging 683c/kg.
Restockers were highly active at the sale, providing strong support to the trade market.
Restocking lambs peaked at $168, while the top and secondary types ranged from $130-$162, averaging 680c/kg.
Although heavy export lambs were well supplied, major processors became selective and slowed their buying, leading to a price drop of $4-$15.
The heaviest lambs topped at $238, with other sales ranging from $172-$237.
The mutton market saw a decline, with prices easing by $2-$5.
Medium-weight ewes sold between $58-$86, and heavy crossbreds traded from $76-$118.
Merinos reached a high of $113, averaging between 280-335c/kg.
Trade weight ewes were very mixed in quality and prices fluctuated around fat cover and skin values.
Prices ranged from $38-$86 to average 281c/kg.
