According to Meat and Livestock Australia’s National LIvestock Reporting Service lambs numbers eased and the quality was plainer on the light store lambs and most of the trade weights.

Heavy lambs were very well finished and attracted strong competition from both trade and export buyers.

The market was dearer despite a smaller buying group. Light store lambs were $15 dearer selling from $96 to $123, averaging $110/head.

Most of the trade weights were $10 to $15 dearer with the medium and heavy trade weights selling from $125 to $154/head, averaging 655c/kg.

Heavy lambs were better finished and sold $15 to $20 dearer and ranged between $154 and $184 with a single pen of extra heavy lambs reaching $193/head. Carcass prices averaged around 670c/kg. The best of the hoggets made to $150/head. Mutton numbers stayed steady and the quality was mixed. Prices lifted a further $5 to $9 with the medium weight Merino ewes making from $81 to $128 for ewes with long wool. Heavy crossbred ewes reached $136 and heavy Merino wethers topped at $129/head. Most averaged 430c to 460c/kg.

SELX CATTLE: A total of 1165 went under the hammer and the quality was plainer.

Yearlings were well supplied and feeders were active on most. Grown steers and bullocks were back in volume but the quality was better in both finish and breed.

The cow run was much plainer with ideal heavy weights in short supply. Most of the usual buying orders were operating along with an extra feeder order which resulted in a firm to dearer market. Restocking vealer steers sold to 400c/kg. The best of the trade vealers made to 350c/kg.

The feeder steers were firm to 9c/kg dearer depending on breed. Prices ranged from 312c to 351c/kg. Feeder heifers lifted at a similar rate receiving 295c to 336c/kg. Heavy trade steers sold from 324c to 346c/kg. Grown steers and bullocks gained 10c/kg mostly due to improved quality and breed. Prices ranged from 288c to 322c/kg. Heifers made to 298c/kg.

Cows were 10c to 15c cheaper with the medium weight 2 scores 160c to 222c and the heavy 3 and 4 scores 212c to 234c averaging 229c/kg.