Rises all round at Wagga Wagga

Yarding - 59,800

Severe storms swept through key regions yesterday, leading to a notable decrease in lamb and sheep supplies. Agents reported a shortfall of 10,000 lambs and 5,000 sheep to what was anticipated. This reduction in supply created a ripple effect throughout the sale, influencing prices with stronger demand across most categories. The quality of the lambs offered varied considerably. While some pens were outstanding new season lambs, others exhibited extreme dryness in their wool. Notably, more than half of the lambs presented for sale were under 21 kilograms carcass weight, which added another layer of complexity to the market dynamics.

As the sale progressed, competition intensified, particularly among the heavier lamb classes, which were in limited supply. Store buyers and feedlots played a crucial role in boosting the market for lighter weight classes, leading to a noticeable uptick in prices for lighter lambs and light trade lambs. In the trade lamb sale, competition was very strong, especially for fresh lambs. Bidding duels became a common occurrence, particularly for lambs weighing between 21-24 kg, which saw price increases ranging from $2 to $8, selling between $172 and $210 to average around 810c/kg cwt. Quality lambs in this weight category averaged between 830c and 860c/kg. The market for lambs weighing 25-26 kg also experienced a positive trend as prices climbed as the sale progressed, prices ranging from $203 to $234/head.

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The presence of numerous store and feedlot orders underscored the demand, with plenty of buyers keen to acquire the lightest lambs available following last week’s price correction. This resulted in a $4 lift for these lighter lambs, with prices ranging from $66 to $107, while those with weight and frame sold between $108 and $165/head. In the export market, prices showed an upward trend as the sale progressed, with some sales exceeding 900c/kg cwt. Buyers were eager to secure weight, leading to a gain of $11. The bulk selling from $228 to $282/head.

It was a mixed quality yarding of mutton and more buyers made it to the sale. Competition for trade sheep intensified with prices lifting $5/head. Most sales ranged from $61 to $97 to average 340c/kg cwt. Heavy sheep sold from $92 to $132/head to average 320c to 348c/kg cwt.

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