Interstate markets seeing early lambs

IT IS that time of the year when we start to look out for the start of the new lamb selling season in the early markets in NSW and Victoria.

A few numbers started coming into saleyards like Corowa, Forbes and Griffith with the general commentary saying that producers are keen to sell early at very good prices rather than putting more weight on their lambs. Prices for these new seasons lambs are sitting around 1,250c/kg carcass weight with many making $250 to $280/head which is a very result straight off their mothers.

Over the next month we will start to see many more come to the market as we then gear up for the full selling season through September to December. It will be interesting see if lamb prices ease as the spring continues or demand stays in front of supply. In Tasmania and Western Victoria the numbers won’t come forward until late October and into Novembe.

Old lamb prices continue to be steady and on Monday evening the Eastern States heavy lamb indicator sat at 1,126c and trade lambs at 1,193c/kg and obviously some markets are cheaper than that and some dearer. It would appear that some lamb abattoirs are still on restricted kills and so those buyers aren’t as strong in some markets but all in all these lamb prices are at very good levels.

Mutton supplies are growing slowly and as a result prices have come down under 900c in the main interstate saleyards with some as low as 800c/kg.

Still excellent money for cast-for-age sheep. Difficult to get a handle on whether the extra US tariff on sheep meats is likely to have much affect but looks at the moment it hasn’t made much difference.

Cattle markets right through the Eastern States have remained strong although there are quite a few more coming to the market particularly in NSW  and Queensland. Saleyards like Dalby, Gracemere and Blackall in Queensland and Wagga and Dubbo in NSW have all seen significant increases and as an example almost 5,000 cattle were yarded at Wagga on Monday (up 1,300). Good quality trade cattle are making 460c to 550c while heavy bullocks are selling for 480c to 520c and heavy cows 390c to 430c/kg liveweight.

Restockers bid on cattle

THERE was another small yarding of 105 trade and grown cattle at Powranna on Tuesday with quality very mixed with a big percentage being bought by restockers.

The best yearlings sold to strong restocker and butcher competition making 450c to 512c with most over 500c/kg.

The few grown steers made 440c/kg. 

There was another small number of 30 cows with very few heavy cows available and these sold to strong competition making 400c to 420c. 

The vast majority were lean cows with the best making 355c to 392c and very lean 250c to 350c/kg liveweight (most over 300c).

THERE was a bigger yarding of 1,691 lambs (769 more) with the extras being mainly light store lambs. 

The few good quality trade and heavy lambs sold to good competition with processors buying light lambs for $152 to $184, trade $224 to $270 and heavy $280 to $324. 

Restockers bought light trade for $212 to $226, light $100 to $222 and very small $90 to $114/head.

There was a very small number of 346 mutton and with less buyers the market was significantly cheaper with extra heavy making $240 to $256, heavy $180 to $224 and medium $120 to $180/head.