Market up at Bendigo

Yarding - 20,925

Lamb supply held at 15,000 head but sheep numbers nearly halved down to 5900/head. The lamb market was erratic, some sales $15 to $30 dearer than a week ago but other lambs just holding firm in a sale which was difficult to follow at times. Overall there was enough dearer results across the auction to lift overall lamb averages by $8 to $20/head. It is worth noting that a lot of dearer outcomes were driven by just a handful of buyers, with the rest of the buying group not actively participating at the higher rates.

Another market mover of note was light Merino lambs which were significantly dearer in places amid stronger MK processing orders. Heavy export lambs sold from $237 to a top of $285/head. Heavy crossbred lambs, 26-30kg cwt, ranged from $203 to $276/head and this was a slot that had hits and misses depending on lamb shape and presentation. Heavy trade lambs $189 to $218/head with one domestic order very strong late in the auction on any better quality types. Medium trades $174 to $204/head and light trades mostly $150 to $165/head.

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The estimate for good processing lambs was 780c to 850c/kg cwt and even higher at times, but noting there was still some handy lambs in the 720c to 770c/kg price range. Light lambs were dearer at $115 to $150/head across a mix of crossbreds and Merinos. There wasn’t a lot of quality store lambs available and any decent lines were well supported by feeders. The talking point in the sheep run was a rebound in value for light mutton which lifted by up to $30/head on the dull outcome of a week ago. Light sheep $59 to $78/head.

Heavy mutton was firm to dearer with not as much weight or condition across the yarding. Most heavy Merino and crossbred sheep $105 to $145/head with some big Merino wethers topping at $161/head. Better lines of mutton were estimated at 380c to 440c/kg cwt.

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