A bit of pre-Christmas slowdown at Ballarat

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Yarding: 34,694

Reduced yarding for the final Ballarat sale for this year down to 29,500 lambs, more than 11,000 less than a week ago. There was a bigger component of light lambs under 20kg cwt in the offering, with less export and heavy trade lambs coming forward. The usual buyers operated but showed less intensity for trade and heavy lambs which were mostly $5 to $10 easier. There was still some stand out pens of of neat and fresh slaughter lambs which sold firm but the majority of lambs came back below 700c/kg cwt in this market. The highlight of the auction was store lambs and light lambs suiting MK ‘bag lamb’ orders which were $2 to $8 dearer.

An export weight pen of young lambs from Thorpedale in Gippsland topped the market at $220. Most of the lead crossbred young lambs were in the 26-30kg cwt range and sold from $148 to $211 at a ballpark cost of 670c/kg to processors.The price range widened across trade and heavy trades as bidding fluctuated around quality - the main run of 24-26kg young lambs $135 to $190 and the 22-24kg from $127 to $162/head. The higher prices tended to be for well shaped lambs with plenty of fat cover and in tight skins. The majority of trade lambs were estimated at 600c to 660c/kg, but there was sales that dipped below this threshold. The most competitive bidding was for store lambs and light lambs suiting MK orders. A run of crossbred lambs in the 18-20kg cwt range, in fat score 2 condition, made from $90 to $116 and averaged $106 to processors. Not far behind was the 16-18kg cwt lambs at $77 to $115 to average $96 to processors. Store buyers paid from $80 to $119 for lambs with frame, and from $50 to $82 for most of the younger smaller types.

Just 5197 sheep yarded and competition for mutton weakened, with the lighter and leaner types most affected. Sales varied from a few dollars cheaper to up to $15 back on a week ago. Most heavy ewes from $40 to $55 with just a few sales higher to a peak of $68 for heavy Merino wethers. Light sheep $5 to $35/head.

https://www.bssaa.com.au/