Quality did influence outcomes at Bendigo

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Yarding - 11,900

Smaller yarding of 7,300 lambs influenced by the cheaper prices of a week ago and more wet weather. Young lamb numbers are starting to build with about 2,500 yarded but turn-off remains slow with agents remarking they need more sunlight. All the regular buyers attended and demand improved and prices for all weights and grades were dearer. However quality did influence outcomes, particularly in the old lamb run where there was plenty of secondary clean-up lots. Buyers did pay more attention to the better finished lambs in neater skins.

Old lambs varied from $10 to $30 dearer, with the biggest rebound recorded for lambs in the the 22-28kg cwt range. Light lamb quality tended to be very plain and scrappy, affecting price results. In the new season lambs the best heavy trades to domestic buyers were $8 to $12 dearer. Some big lines of lighter but well-bred crossbred young lambs sent down from southern NSW attracted restocker interest and these runs to the paddock were $20 to $30 dearer.

The major domestic buyers focused on new season lambs, paying from $204 to a top of $223 for pens over 24kg cwt, and from $182 to $194 for the neatest trades in the 22-24kg range. These lambs were estimated at 780c to 815c/kg cwt. Demand was keener than many buyers had anticipated on the bigger lines of young store lambs at $130 to $157/head.

Not as much weight in the old lamb section this week for a top of $240/head with most heavy pens in the 26-30kg category from $200 to $223/head. Trade lambs varied from $160 to $200, showing how quality did influence results. It meant there was a wide price estimate of 680c to 780c/kg across old lambs. Quality was mostly plain in the lighter lambs under 20kg at $60 to $150/head.

The sheep sale was stronger. Heavy sheep $5 to $10 dearer, while leaner tradeweights were firm to just slightly dearer. Big crossbred ewes $160 to $190, while some extra heavy Merino wethers reached $200/head. Most trade and light sheep with frame sold from $100 to $130/head. Mutton was estimated at costing processors from 480c to 550c/kg cwt.

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