SHEEP & LAMBS
BENDIGO
March 18.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Yarding: 21,738. Change: up 4744. Lambs: 13,647. Change: up 2253. Sheep: 8091. Change: up 2491.
There was a modest lift in lamb numbers as selling resumed after the Labour Day public holiday.
The hot autumn weather is also influencing supply, particularly in the sheep run where numbers increased over 8000 head as another wave of ewes are culled.
Processor competition remained soft, with two major buyers absent and others only operating at a limited capacity. Bidding was weakest on heavy export lambs over 28kg cwt, with some pens recording further decreases of $15/head on a fortnight ago.
The general run of trade weight lambs were $2 to $5/head easier, although there was some dearer results for the neatest domestic pens amid limited supplies. Light weight lambs were firm to dearer thanks to solid demand from processors for MK stock plus feedlot orders.
The overall trend of the market favouring trade and lighter weight lambs over heavy stock showed up in the dollar per head averages that were unusually tight.
For example, the main run of crossbred lambs weighing 26-30k cwt averaged $172, compared to $165 for the 24-26kg pens, representing a difference of just $7/head.
One pen of extra heavy export lambs topped at $184, with most sales of heavy lambs in the 26-30kg cwt category making from $164 to $178/head.
The heaviest lambs were estimated to make from 540c to 570c/kg cwt. Most trade weight lambs sold from $152 to $165/head, varying from 600c to 660c/kg cwt depending on breed quality and finish.
The better presented light weight crossbred lambs sold from $96 to $126/head to track over 700c/kg cwt at times.
Store buyer interest was limited, and very small and secondary lambs were discounted. The pick of the trade weight Merino lambs in the yarding sold from $137 to $156/head for estimates of 550c to 560c/kg cwt.
The sheep yarding included some quality crossbred and Merino ewes still in forward condition.
Mutton prices improved by $5 to $10/head, with the strongest processor demand shown for sheep still displaying reasonable fat cover.
Heavy crossbred ewes received from $110 to $141, and heavy Merino ewes sold from $108 to $140/head.
Light sheep not emaciated by drought primarily made from $60 to $80/head. A good run of Merino mutton was estimated to cost processors from 380c to 430c/kg cwt.
NARACOORTE
March 12.
Yarding: 4373. Change: down 910. Lambs: 3179. Change: down 490. Sheep: 1194. Change: down 420.
Agents yarded the smaller number of 3179 lambs and 1194 sheep to total 4373 head overall.
These sold to a smaller field of trade and processor buyers, with restocker orders present and active across the offering. Quality continues to be mixed with all weights and categories being represented in the yards, with less spirited competition this week leading to a cheaper market, as most lambs ranged from 620c to 640c/kg cwt with a fall of $6 to $8/head.
Light weight lambs to the trade ranged from $73 to $120, with the light weight trade 2 and 3 score selection ranging from $115 to $134/head.
Restockers purchased a wide range of lambs, with their lighter types ranging from $71 to $122, as they paid from $130 to $142/head for those with more weight and conditioning.
Trade weight 3 score lambs ranged from $128 to $144, as the heavy lambs ranged from $152 to $169, with the extra heavy types ranging from $168 to a market high of $195/head.
Hoggets ranged from $66 to $130, with light ewes returning from $35 to $68/head. Medium weighted ewes ranged from $76 to $97, as the heavy selection ranged from $105 to $124/head. Rams returned vendors from $35 to a high of $96/head.
CATTLE
BALLARAT
March 18. Yarding: 489. Change: up 99.
With no sale last Monday, cattle supply lifted to 489 head this week at Ballarat.
There was a good mix of all weights and grades, with the usual buying group in attendance and operating in an easier market when compared to the sale of two weeks ago.
The best of the heavy grown steers sold similar, with most other cattle going from 10c to 30c/kg easier and more in places. Bulls eased 10c to 30c/kg.
A large percentage of the increase in numbers comprised cows, with 178 cows, 100 heifers, 166 steers, 44 bulls and a few pens of open auction young cattle yarded.
Vealers sold to the trade from 173c to 236c, plainer D muscle types sold from 140c to 160c, with feeders and restockers paying from 162c to 242c and 100c/kg for light weight young cattle. Yearlings sold to the trade from 173c to 252c, as restockers and feeders paid from 163c to 237c/kg. Light D muscle grown steers sold for 180c, as medium weight C and D muscle grown steers sold from 226c to 241c, while heavy steers sold for 240c/kg.
Restockers and feeders paid from 158c to 236c/kg for steers to feed on. Medium weight grown heifers sold from 180c to 212c, with heavier weights receiving from 185c to 225c/kg. Feeders and restockers paid primarily from 150c to 176c/kg for grown heifers.
Manufacturing steers sold to the trade from 140c to 175c, as restockers paid from 82c to 120c/kg. Heavy B and C muscle cows sold from 145c to 186c, as the C muscle 2 score cows sold from 115c to 140c, while heavy D muscle 4 score cows sold from 160c to 190c/kg.
The D2 cows made from 110c to 145c/kg. Medium C and D muscle cows sold from 90c to 141.6c, with the 1 score cows receiving from 73c to 102c/kg. Light D1 and D2 score cows sold from 70c to 90c, with the light condition E muscle cows making from 32c to 50c/kg at times. Dairy types sold from 80c to 100c/kg. Heavy beef bulls sold from 154c to 190c, as C muscle bulls sold from 143c to 190c, while dairy bulls received 125c/kg. Restockers and feeders paid from 80c to 148c/kg for young bulls.
COLAC
March 14. Yarding: 287. Change: down 40.
Following the decrease in prices at other markets over recent weeks and no market here last week, the decline compared to two weeks ago seemed quite severe. Grown steers eased 40c to 50c, grown heifers sold 30c to 50c lower and cows made 10c to 30c/kg less. The vealers were unchanged in prices for the better quality, but plain quality and majority of yearlings were equal to cheaper. The usual buyers, plus an additional restocker, operated on the plain to good quality yarding that comprised 37 grown steers, 33 grown heifers, 125 young cattle, 80 cows and 12 bulls. The good quality vealers to processors sold from 270c to 280c, with plain quality making from 180c to 200c/kg, and these were purchased by restockers. The few C muscled yearlings purchased by processors were all heifers, receiving from 222c and 230c, while restockers collected the bulk of the yearlings, as they paid from 198c to 280c/kg. Grown steers were in lean condition, with the C2 and C3 grades making 180c, 199c, 212c and 225c/kg. Restockers paid 190c, 194c, 209c and 220c/kg. The C2 and C3 grown heifers sold from 170c to 190c and the top price of 222c/kg was paid for four C2s.
Just a few better covered beef cows came forward and these sold for 170c, 180c and 200c/kg. The D2 cows made 127c, 136c and 140c, with D1 cows making from 130c to 150c and restockers paid to 165c/kg.