Up and down last market at Bendigo

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Yarding - 16,150

Smaller yarding of 13650 lambs and just 2500 sheep for the last sale of the year. Quality was plainer across all grades compared to a week ago. Not all buyers operated fully amid reports many had organised pre-Christmas kills. The processing market for lambs over 22kg cwt had a softer tone of $5 to $10, although some of the best shorn and woolly pens were firm. Light lambs to restockers and MK bag lamb orders were the highlight, with lamb grades under 20kg cwt often $5 to $15 dearer.

Heaviest lambs over 30kg cwt from $190 to a top of $220. Main run of heavy shorn lambs, 26-30kg, $163 to $200 to average $178/head. Best heavy trades, 24-26kg, $150 to $166/head. In the woolly unshorn lambs there was a lot of plainer tradeweights, 22-24kg, which sold from $130 to $142/head. On a carcass basis the lead of the processing lambs were estimated at 620c to 680c/kg cwt. Underneath this was the mixed trade run at an estimated 550c to 600c/kg cwt, with a lot of drier unshorn lambs in this range. Processor competition for MK lambs remained strong and a lot of light lambs sold from $60 to $110/head. Restockers paid from $104 to $118 for store lambs with frame, around 18-20kg cwt. Main run of small lambs to the paddock, 12-16kg, $50 to $88 to average $70/head.

The sheep market lacked drive with processors not prepared to chase and one northern exporter dominated. Prices were cheaper, the majority of ewes working out below 180c/kg cwt. A range of $30 to $50 covered most sales, with just a few pens higher to a top of $65 for Merino wethers. There was little demand for rams. Note: Sales at Bendigo will recommence on Monday, January 8.

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