Slightly cheaper Lamb Sale at CVLX Ballarat

Yarding - 45,860 (-18,570).

Lambs - 32,973 (-12,345).

Sheep - 12,887 (-6,225).

Ballarat agents yarded a smaller number of 32,973 lambs, which was approximately 12,346 head less than last week. Quality again varied from average to good, as most weights were on offer to the regular field of buyers, as they operated with spirited competition to fill orders in a slightly cheaper lamb market overall.

The lamb prices were up to $10 cheaper for plainer and some lighter lambs, while light trade weight lambs sold $5/head easier. Medium and heavy trade weight to heavy lambs were from $3 to $7 cheaper and the limited number of extra heavy export lambs offered sold from $10 to $14/head lower than last week. There were some isolated sales throughout the offering, where lambs sold firm in the medium to heavy trade weight and heavy lamb categories during the market. Restockers were active at times, mostly paying from $76 up to $158/head during the course of the sale, as they sold close to unchanged due to the extra competition. They also paid from $20 to $63 for very light lambs, $95 to $119 for Merino wethers and $83/head for Merino ewes. Heavier Merino lambs made from $116 to $135, medium trade weight old lambs sold from $112 to $142, heavy old lambs received from $152 to $185 and heavy hoggets sold from $148 to $185/head.

New season 2 score young lambs sold from $80 to $116 as they averaged 650c, while light 2 and 3 score trade weights made from $117 to $138/head to average 680c/kg cwt. The medium trade weight 2 and 3 score 19-20kg cwt lambs sold from $128 to $153 and the good quality 3 score 21-22kg cwt pens made from $140 to $166/head as they averaged 685c/kg cwt. Heavy trade weight 3 and 4 score lambs sold from $154 to $180/head, averaging 690c/kg cwt. The heavier young lambs made from $178 to $192/head to average 700c/kg cwt. Heavy export 4 scores lambs sold from $200 to the market top of $228/head as they also averaged from 690c to 700c/kg cwt.

Ad - Forest Springs Merinos now have Flock Rams available - Give Bruce Dean a call on 0407 054 342 - Ad

The 12,887 sheep offered represented a reduction of 6,225 head, comprising all weights and grades, with the offering containing some good drafts of crossbred and Merino ewes plus a very good line up of Merino wether pens in most agent’s runs. Not all buyers operated in the sheep sale prices as prices remain steady, with the heavy sheep making from firm to $5/head dearer as the medium mutton was unchanged and the light sheep sold slightly easier on average. Light weight 1 and 2 score sheep sold from $45 to $79 as they averaged close to 380c/kg cwt and extra light sheep made from $10 to $34/head. Medium weight 2 and 3 score mutton sold from $77 to $116/head. The Merino ewe mutton averaged 410c, while the crossbred ewe mutton received 380c/kg cwt. Heavy crossbred 3 and 4 scores ewes sold from $112 to $163, as they averaged 405c, while heavy Merino ewes sold from $112 to $135/head to average approximately 440c/kg cwt. The heavy weight Merino wethers sold from $104 to $161 as they averaged 460c/kg cwt and crossbred wethers reached $165/head. Rams of all breeds made from $5 to $75/head