Slightly backwards at Bendigo

Yarding - 33,350

Lamb supply lifted again to 22,950 head for a 15pc increase. Quality overall was not to the same consistent standard of a week ago, with the new season lambs showing more variance in regard to fat cover and weight and there was often a top and tail of quality in the same pen. Two Victorian processors were absent from the main buying group. All these factors led to a modestly cheaper market of $2 to $5/head softer over the main heavy and trade categories. But it is worth noting the best young lambs often sold at firm levels, while gaps in the market started to be seen on the drier or off-bred types. Store lambs fluctuated from $2 to $10/head easier.

Export weight young lambs sold to $270, but the next best price was $256 and only about a dozen pens had the weight and finish to sell above $240/head. Most of the lead run of crossbred young lambs, 26-30kg cwt, sold from $203 to $240/head; heavy trades, 24-26kg cwt, $193 to $218/head; and the medium trades $162 to $190/head. These lamb categories were tracking between an estimated 770c to 820c/kg cwt.

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Store buyers paid to $175 for trade weighted young lambs to shear, with most of the 18-20kg cwt types with frame from $130 to $155/head. Smaller store lambs in the light 12-16kg cwt range $64 to $117 to average $96/head. Store buying activity was from Ballarat, Horsham, Shepparton, Wycheproof and the local north-east area.

Sheep numbers declined and the market did show some modest price gains this week. Heavy mutton gained $2 to $10/head with most sales tracking between an estimated 260c to 310c/kg cwt. Heavy Merinos in a skin $90 to $114/head; big crossbred ewes $90 to $105/head; and the general run of leaner trade sheep $50 to $85/head.

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