Local butcher interest in heavy lambs

HERE we are near the end of September and interstate lamb saleyards are starting to be dominated by new seasons lambs although here in Tassie and Western Victoria we are still a good month to six weeks away from any numbers.

Although lamb prices have eased over the past fortnight, I think most producers would be pretty happy with the 1,100c to 1,150c/kg carcass weight being achieved this week. 

Just as an example, at Bendigo on Monday the few heavy new season lambs made $350 to $390 (estimated weight between 26 & 30 kg) and then good quality trade lambs made $255 to $290.

 At Dubbo on Monday, trade pens made $210 to $289 (av. 1,115c to 1,135c/kg). Store lambs at Dubbo made between $146 to $258 while at Bendigo restockers paid $190 to $250/head for well-bred lambs. 

Obviously, as with most of last season the store lamb prices are going to put a good floor in the light and trade lamb market. 

Old seasons lambs have come back in price over the last couple of weeks with averages sitting around 1,000c/kg.

Locally at Powranna we have had small numbers but last week we saw a few pens of heavy new lambs that made $278 to $320 and this week only a couple of pens and not as heavy make $270 to $312.

 It is very early days for Tasmanian new seasons lambs but if there are producers out there with trade or heavy lambs ready, it would be worth some thought to go to the market as I know there is strong processor and local butcher interest out there.

The other interesting point will be the interest in early store lambs and as mentioned above most are going to make $180 to $220 and upwards. 

And that will probably stay unless it suddenly gets very dry and so there is definitely an opportunity to sell early at good money over the next few weeks.

Our biggest influx of new lambs won’t be seen until later in November.

Mutton prices although a little cheaper are still ticking along very well with most interstate prices sitting between 800c and 850c/kg carcass weight which is meaning most medium and heavy sheep are making $180 to $250 and the extra heavy nudging $300/head.

New season lambs sell well

There was another small number of 445 lambs at Powranna on Tuesday with quality again mixed. 

There were two pens of new seasons lambs that sold from $270 to $312 while the best old lambs topped at $316. 

Most trade lambs made $254 to $290 and light trade $180 to $190. Restockers paid $194 to $206 for well bred lambs. There were only 222 mutton (90 less) and this market recovered last week’s losses with heavy sheep making $244 to $256, medium $160 to $200 and light $114 to $152/head.

There was also a small number of cattle with about 60 per cent being cows.

 There were very few top-quality butcher cattle available and the steers topped at 490c while the better heifers made 422c to 464c and the seconds 400c to 418c/kg. 

There were 35 cows penned and the heavy pens met a stronger market making 374c to 390c, leaner 320c to 350c and very lean D1 cows 240c to 270c/kg liveweight.