Lambs in demand at Wagga Wagga

Yarding - 48,500

Following the Easter holiday break, the lamb market experienced a notable shift, with numbers falling short of expectations. Despite this, the quality of the lambs presented ranged from fair to outstanding, particularly those exceeding 24kg cwt. Heavy lambs, which had been hard-fed, offered buyers excellent yields. While there was a noticeable absence of supermarket competition at the sale, a big field of domestic and export companies along with feed lotters who actively participated, contributing to a dynamic sale.

The introduction of forward winter contracts for producers significantly influenced prices, resulting in a jump of $10 to $20 and more in places for certain categories. This momentum created a robust trade market, particularly for well-shaped, shorter-skinned lambs weighing between 22-26kg. Trade lambs in the 22-26kg range saw prices improve to sell between $173 and $234/head, averaging an impressive 859c/kg. Merino lambs also emerged as a hot ticket item, with trade lambs fetching between $147 and $216/head. Feeder-type lambs were in high demand, with buyers paying from $148 for the plainer types up to $184 for those with better weight and frame.

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Restockers were at the sale but mainly concentrated on the lighter weight lambs. An exceptional lineup of heavy lambs was presented, particularly those weighing between 27-30kg cwt, which frequently broke the 900c/kg cwt barrier. Prices for these lambs ranged from $227 to $268, while those over 30kg fetched between $258 and $300.

It was a very mixed yarding of mutton with all weights and grades represented. There are now more light sheep entering the market with bigger numbers of one and two score ewes. Light sheep sold from $104 to $119/head. Trade sheep prices varied greatly at times selling from $134 to $164/head for the better presented. Heavy sheep sales were just as erratic, with long bidding duels throughout the sale. Prices ranged from $163 to $264/head to average 577c to 622c/kg cwt.

https://wagga.nsw.gov.au/business-investment/council-businesses/livestock-marketing-centre