Lamb market stays strong

MOST of the state got some pretty good rain over the last week with much of the Midland areas getting around 25mm while parts of the Northeast received closer to 40mm. 

Throughout the North these rains will just top off the spring while the Midlands and Southern regions really need a follow-up to make half a season.

Already the northern cattle markets improved early this week with gains of 50c/kg liveweight across feeder and restocker cattle while some cow markets gained 10c to 20c/kg. 

At Wagga on Monday heavy cows made 400c to 448c to average 428c while further south at Mortlake 405c to 435c/kg. Most trade cattle at these big yards made from 500c to 540c while feeders and restockers pushed prices even higher. 

The Eastern States Young Cattle Indicator continues to rise and on Monday evening sat at 1,009c/kg carcass weight.

With these very good rains through the big producing areas, it will mean that producers will be able to control supply which in turn will most likely keep prices at current levels in the short to medium term.

Lamb and mutton prices continue to either hold firm or improve as we head towards the big influx of lambs from Western Victoria that we will see over the next few weeks which might test the supply and demand chain. 

We will have to wait and see.

Most market reporters out of the big lamb saleyards are saying that there is a shortage of lambs over 28 kg suitable for the US export market which is causing strong competition and these heavy lambs are working out around 1,100c while trade lambs are more in the 1,150c range. 

Most heavy lambs at Bendigo on Monday made $330 to $370 (a couple of small pens to $390) and most trade lambs $260 to $310/head.

 Restockers are prepared to pay $200 to $240 for light trade weights and $170 to $200 for very small lambs.

At Powranna on Tuesday the best new seasons lambs made $284 to $318 and lighter $230 to $270 while restockers paid $200 to $218 for light trade and $166 to $194 for light lambs. Exceptional money for the end of October.

The mutton sale was also very strong with extra heavy sheep making $260 to $294, heavy $220 to $295, medium $160 to $244 and light $108 to $174. Restockers paid $68 to $95 for very light sheep. Numbers coming forward will be the key to sheep and lamb markets over the next few months.

New season lambs lighter

There was a smaller yarding of 1,080 lambs at Powranna on Tuesday following some very good statewide rains.

There wasn’t as much weight in the new season lamb runs although there was some good weight in the old lambs.

The market improved $10 to $20 with the best new lambs making $284 to $318 and trade pens made $230 to $270.

Restockers paid $200 to $218 for light trade and $166 to $194 for light lambs. 

The best old lambs made $260 to $308 while restockers paid $102 to $186 for light old lambs. 

There was a bigger number of 1,458 mutton (288 more) and all sheep met a very strong market with rises of $25 to $30/head. 

Extra heavy sheep made $260 to $294, heavy $220 to $295, medium $160 to $244 and light $108 to $174. Restockers paid $68 to $95 for very light sheep.

 There was a slightly larger yarding of 96 trade and export cattle with about half being cows and bulls. 

The quality of trade cattle was better and prices were similar with yearling steers making 438c to 490c and heifers 402c to 460c. The few bullocks made 398c to 430c/kg.

There was a better selection of 47 cows and most met a similar market with heavy beef cows selling for 348c to 376c and leaner 272c to 335c. Heavy bulls made 330c to 335c/liveweight and topped at $3,183/head.