Mutton prices inching up at Ballarat

Yarding: 24,222

Lamb numbers dropped considerably to 17,730 penned. Heavy export and heavy trade presented in excellent condition off feed, however were limited and quality dropped off to plainer types in woolly skins lacking finish. Not all the usual buyers were on the rail with some not entering in the market.

The market opened strong with keen interest over the heavy export and trade weights, bidding became subdued on the plainer secondary types lacking condition and the smaller plain lots. Again the lighter weight well bred shorn lambs gained the most from restockers and speciality feeders. Store lambs sold $8 to $15 softer, light trade were to $20 cheaper in places and medium trade sold firm to $5 cheaper, however the plainer lots in places were to $12 softer. Heavy trade sold firm to a few dollars dearer in places while heavy export sold to a top of $307 selling firm to $4 dearer.

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Lambs back to the paddock made from $36 to $157 and $145 to $180/head to feed on. Light trade lambs under 18kg to suit MK orders sold from $70 to 156/head, averaging 720c to 830c/kg cwt. Trade lambs 18 to 22kg sold from $156 to $188/head, 22 to 26kg sold $174 to $225, to average 760c to 820c/kg cwt. Heavy export lambs 26 to 30kg made from $216 to $264 and over 30kg made from $270 to $307/head, to average of 800c to 830c/kg, A nice run of Merino hoggets sold from $90 to $134/head.

Mutton numbers also slipped to 6,490 yarded. Quality varied from plain light weights to very good. Not all the buyers were active in a market that opened stronger over the heavy weights and became erratic through the medium and light weight categories and gained momentum towards the end of the sale, with a number of light weight sheep selling under $10/head. Merino wethers were in limited supply selling from $76 to $160 selling to $10/head dearer in places. Light weight Merino ewes made from $52 to $145, selling $3 to $10 cheaper and the heavier weights sold from $133 to $176, gaining $4 to $8/head. Light weight crossbred mutton made from $14 to $132, slipping $10 and heavy crossbred mutton sold from $135 to $212, selling to $21/head dearer. Heavy mutton averaged from 520c to 570c/kg, with sales in places reaching over 600c/kg cwt.

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