Softer Lamb market at Ballarat

Yarding: 40,339

Lamb numbers remained similar with 28,575 penned, with over 70% of the yarding are presenting shorn. Quality ranged from plainer secondary types lacking muscle and fat cover to lambs presented in excellent condition which were limited. All the usual buying group attended but not all were active in a mostly softer market across the yarding.

Light trade and store lambs were in good supply, making up over half the yarding, selling firm to $5 dearer for the better quality lambs in short skins and to $8 cheaper for the plainer secondary types. Medium trade sold to $5 to $12 softer and heavy trade were to $11/head cheaper. Heavy exports were again in limited numbers selling to a top of $286 to be $9/head back on last week’s levels.

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Lambs back to the paddock made from $30 to $139 and $133 to $169/head to feed on. Light trade lambs under 18kg to suit MK orders sold from $93 to 148/head, averaging 750c to 810c/kg cwt. Trade lambs 18 to 22kg sold from $142 to $184/head, 22 to 26kg sold $176 to $220/head, to average 760c to 820c/kg cwt. Heavy export lambs over 26kg made from $213 to $286/head, to average of 805c to 825c/kg cwt. Hoggets from $74 to $114 for the Merino’s and $93 to $180/head for the crossbreds.

Mutton numbers increased to 11,764 penned, quality ranged from plain to very good. All the usual buying group were on the rail, however not all active. The market open softer then gained momentum to become very erratic with sales bouncing from softer to dearer throughout the remainder of the yarding. Merino wethers made from $89 to $125 for the lighter weights, while the heavier weights sold from $117 to $144, slipping $3 to $8/head. Light weight Merino ewes made from $18 to $118, and the heavier weights sold from $114 to $140, selling firm to $5/head softer. Heavy crossbred mutton made from $89 to $141, to be $6 to $12 cheaper and the lighter weights made from $51 to $96/head.

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