Lamb down Mutton up at Bendigo

Yarding - 19,025

Lamb numbers increased to 13,145 head and quality also evened out on the very plain offering of a week ago, which meant buyers didn’t have to chase the best stock to the extreme price levels of last Monday. The result was a softer trend of $5 to $20 as the market settled, and there was sales that still matched the levels of a week ago. On the demand side not all export processors were active and the tone from the buying group was not as energetic.

This sale marked the first time multiple pens of new season lambs have appeared- agents drawing for about 1000 head. The best heavy trades at an estimated 24kg to 27kg cwt sold from $212 to $250 to track from 900c to 950c/kg cwt on a modest skin value of $2 per pelt. But buyers quickly lowered bidding on any young trade lambs with less weight and finish at $155 to $185 and these pens started with an $8kg price tag. There was light crossbred young lambs down to $134/head. A line of fresh young Merino lambs from the Riverina sold to a top of $145 to processors, the balance $89 to $119/head to restockers.

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In the old season lambs a limited offering of export lambs over 30kg cwt sold from $239 to a top of $269/head. The heavy crossbreds, 26-30kg, made $214 to $246, followed by the heavy trades at $186 to $220/head. Medium trade lambs $170 to $204. On a carcass basis the best quality old lambs were estimated between 800c to 850c/kg, while the plainer and mixed lots were mostly in the 720c to 780c/kg cwt range. Decent MK processing lambs $90 to $125 for most, out to $148 for top-end weights with shape. Smallest and plainest light lambs $50 to $85/head.

In the mutton run heavy sheep were dearer courtesy of competition between a couple of export processors, a line of extra large Merino wethers in a skin selling to $155; big crossbred ewes $124 to $140; and Merino ewes to $135/head. However leaner trade and light sheep were cheaper, and late in the auction there was plain ewes selling down at $20 to $50 in noticeable discount. The majority of sheep sold in the range of $60 to $110/head.

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