The best processor Lambs gained $10 to $28/head on the last Bendigo sale

This article is bought to you by Wallaloo Park Merinos. 

Yarding - 16,700 (-6139).

Lambs - 12,000 (-5768).

Sheep - 4,700 (-371).

Lamb numbers remained low at 12,000 head as selling resumed after last week's public holiday. There was some impressive heavy and trade lambs off supplementary feed yarded, alongside plainer and rougher-skinned types showing the effects of the season. Buyers did reward weight and finish, with six pens of extra heavy export lambs making from $300 to a top of $326/head - the highest dollar per head price recorded at Bendigo this season. Although, the market did perform on quality, with secondary types not experiencing the same level of demand and carcase prices on the top drafts. The best processor lambs gained $10 to $28/head compared to a fortnight ago. Smaller and light weight lambs under 20kg cwt were often cheaper, with quality a factor. Buyers have begun working on lower skin values, with most trade and export buyers only expecting from $3 to $5/head for reasonable pelts off crossbred lambs.

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Extra heavy lambs sold from $300 to a top of $326/head, with the main run of crossbreds over 30kg cwt averaging close to 880c/kg cwt. The competition was strongest on heavy and medium domestic lambs. The best 26-30kg cwt lambs sold from $243 to $288 to average$273/head. The 24-26kg cwt lambs made from $221 to $265 to average $251 and the 22-24kg cwt crossbreds sold from $208 to $236 to average $225/head. On a carcase basis, these quality lambs were returning estimated averages from 930c to 960c, with individual pens going as high as 1,000c/kg cwt at times. This was at a premium to the secondary lambs that varied from 800c to 880c/kg in an erratic market. Plainer lambs also had highs and lows, with some strong sales to feedlots and restockers. However, the overall trend on the plainer and small lambs was cheaper. Heavy Merino lambs off supplementary feed and with good fat cover sold from $201 to $238/head to average over800c/kg. Plainer and lighter Merinos mainly sold from $130 to $180/head to be trending in the 770c/kg cwt area.

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Mixed price results continued in the sheep section. Two exporters clashed over some stand-out lines of heavy Merino wethers, paying up to$227/head at over 700c/kg cwt. The best heavy Merino ewes also sold strongly from $196 to $248/head to be estimated above 600c/kg cwt. Although, carcase prices for the general run of sheep were softer than a fortnight ago