Sheep and lambs
Bendigo
May 7. Yarding: 12,411. Change: down 3206.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Lambs: 9315. Change: down 1476.
Sheep: 3096. Change: down 1730.
Both lamb and sheep numbers declined following some rain in the area.
One agency had a stand-out line-up of extra heavy lambs off grain, while the general yarding remained very mixed for quality.
Merinos made up a reasonable percentage of the offering.
The usual buying field was boosted by the return of a southern export company which was back buying lambs after an absence of some weeks.
Prices were a few dollars dearer for the best heavy and trade weight lambs, while plainer types and odd-lots sold at similar prices to a week ago.
Light weight lambs sold to mixed price results.
Prices reached a top of $203, which appears well-up on last week's best result of $190/head, however the price was for extra heavy lambs off grain estimated to weigh 38kg cwt.
It was one of four pens of big weighted export lambs to sell above $200/head.
The estimate for these lambs over 30kg was 530c/kg cwt.
The market did show more improvement for more nicely weighted slaughter lambs 28kg and less.
The lead runs of crossbred lambs in the 26-28kg range made from $163 to $176/head at an estimated 580c/kg cwt.
The best heavy and medium trade weight lambs sold from $138 to $167/head to average 600c to 620c/kg cwt.
In the Merino section, the pick of the trade weights with reasonable cover sold from $144 to $159/head at an estimated 560c/kg cwt.
Light weight lambs under 18kg generally made from $80 to $120/head, with this price range covering most of the smaller Merinos.
There was a large draft of very small Merino lambs in light condition which could only be sold for slaughter and were discounted down to $9/head.
Mutton supply was limited and prices did lift on the good lines of heavy and trade weight sheep.
Extra heavy crossbred ewes sold to $165, and Merino ewes to $144/head.
The general run of Merinos made from $92 to $120/head at an estimated 480c/kg cwt.
Naracoorte
May 1. Yarding: 2243. Change: down 675.
Lambs: 1586. Change: down 1074.
Sheep: 657. Change: up 399.
Agents yarded less lambs and more sheep as they offered 1586 lambs and 657 sheep to total 2,243 head.
These sold to a larger array of trade and processor buyers, with a number of restockers also present and active.
Quality was varied and only small numbers of lambs had any weight or condition, while the bulk of the offering was of store condition.
However, pricing lifted, with lighter lambs leading the way.
Light lambs to the trade made from $66 to $115, with the light weight trade 2 and 3 score types selling from $104 to $125/head.
Restockers were strong as they turned lambs back to the paddock, which made $55 to $125/head.
Trade weight 3 score lambs sold from $115 for Dorpers up to $138/head, averaging around 600c/kg cwt.
Heavy lambs were in short supply and made from $140 to $156, while the extra heavy lambs sold from $160 to $180/head.
Light hoggets sold to $62, as the heavier selection made from $90 to $112/head.
Light ewes sold from $26 to $76, with medium weights returning from $88 to $108/head.
Heavy ewes were once again in demand as they made from $108 to a high of $135/head to regain last week’s loss.
Wethers sold to $135, while rams generally made from $75 to $92/head.
Cattle
Ballarat
May 7. Yarding: 210. Change: up 27
Numbers were up this week at Ballarat with 210 head yarded.
Quality was mostly average to good, with some quality runs of heavy beef bred cows penned.
Most of the usual buying group attended and operated along with keen restocker interest.
The market improved a few cents for young cattle, with most going to restockers.
The grown steers eased 5c to 10c, making to 230c/kg.
Medium weight C muscle grown heifers improved by up to 10c/kg with others selling close to firm.
Cows mostly sold to an easier trend, with heavy C muscle beef cows selling from 15c to 20c down on last week, most others were back by 5c to 10c/kg.
Heavy beef bulls sold easier making to 190c/kg.
The yarding was made up of 61 cows, 61 steers, 68 heifers, 20 bulls and a few open auction young cattle.
The trade paid from 220c to 240c for vealers and from 200c to 268c/kg for yearlings.
Most other young cattle were purchased by feeders and restockers from 238c to 268c for the better quality, with plainer types selling from 180c to 220c/kg.
Medium grown steers made from 210c to 224c, heavy weights sold to 230c, and a single bullock made 193c/kg.
Restockers paid from 235c to 253c/kg for medium weight steers.
C muscle grown heifers sold from 200c to 228c, with D muscle heifers selling from 166c to 202c/kg. Restockers paid from 162c to 186c/kg for grown heifers.
Light E muscle, 1 and 2 score, dairy type cows sold from 60c to 130c/kg.
Medium weight C muscle beef bred cows sold to 179c and the D muscle cows sold to 180c/kg.
Heavy C muscle cows sold from 152c to 187c, with the D muscle cows selling from 165c to 178c/kg.
Restockers paid from 158c to 193c/kg for cows.
Heavy B muscle bulls sold easier and made to 190c, the C muscle bulls sold from 152c to 182c and a pastoral bull made 178c/kg.
COLAC CATTLE
May 3. Yarding: 163. Change: 26.
Colac agents yarded another mixed offering of 163 cattle which was an increase of 26 head made up of 13 grown steers, 22 heifers, 37 young cattle, 78 cows and 10 bulls for the usual regular buyers present.
The market was overall around last week’s prices with a few sales of grown heifers and beef cows slightly cheaper, a grown steer pen was dearer and the good quality young cattle sold firm. C2 and C3 vealers to the processors sold from 230c to 270c with feeders and restockers paying 205c to 252c/kg.
The better quality yearling steers sold from 205c to 250c with a B2 yearling heifer making 270c/kg cwt.
The D2 and C2 yearling heifers made from 160c to 250c as restockers paid 130c to 170c/kg.
A pen of grown steers C3 sold for 250c with a restockers purchasing a pen of C2 steers for 232c and a single manufacturing steer reached 205c/kg.
D2 to D3 grown heifers sold from 180c to 195c with C2 to C4s making 210c to 240c/kg.
The extra light E1 cows sold from 80c to 102c/kg. The light cows with more weight and frame made from 110c to 150c/kg.
A single dairy cow D2 made 183c as the D2 and D3 beef cows sold from 145c through to 185c/kg.
The heaviest beef bred cows C3 to C5 made 200c/kg.
Look to Friday’s edition of The Wimmera Mail-Times for more regional livestock market reports.
.