Competition at Bendigo

Yarding - 28,850

Slight decline in numbers down to 19750 lambs and 9100 sheep following widespread rain across the region late last week. It was a better quality yarding with the young lambs handling more consistently this week and the top runs showing more weight. A couple of processors which have been absent or quite recently were more active in this sale and the general tone of the buying group was more urgent, some loading trucks out early in the auction. Prices for export and heavy trade lambs were $5 to $10 dearer. Once under 24kg cwt the market fluctuated more around quality to average $3 to $8 stronger. Buyers did give better support to the southern lambs from the likes of Kilmore which are starting to come in and are still showing a lot of freshness.

There was less restocking orders with no Ballarat agents or buyers from Swan HIll or Albury. More light lambs under 21kg cwt did sell to MK processing orders rather than to restockers. Any well-bred lines of store lambs with frame sold at similar rates, while some of the smallest store lambs were cheaper. There was more first-cross Border Leicester wether lambs in this yarding. A few pens of export weight young lambs $262 to a top of $288/head. Most of he lead pens of crossbreds were in the 26-30kg cwt range and sold from $213 to $252 to average $238/head. Heavy trade young lambs $196 to $224, and medium trades $165 to $218/head.

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On a carcass basis the main export and heavy trade categories were trending at 820c to 840c/kg cwt, with the neatest supermarket style pens out to a top of 880c/kg at times. Once under 24kg cwt the rate was more like 760c to 800c/kg cwt. In the store lambs crossbreds showing good breed type and some frame size sold from $125 to $158/head, while smaller lambs to the paddock varied from $55 to $122/head.

The mutton sale was modestly dearer by $2 to $8/head with most sheep estimated as costing processors from 280c to 340c/kg cwt. Big crossbred ewes $95 to $115/head; the lead pens of Merino ewes with weight and skin values $92 to $119/head; general run of trade sheep $55 to $88/head.

https://www.bendigo.vic.gov.au/Services/Bendigo-Livestock-Exchange