Lamb is still hitting highs

STORE markets for both lambs and weaner cattle are at very good levels and in fact the store lamb indicator is sitting at record highs.

In most eastern states saleyards (including Powranna) restockers are prepared to pay $200 to $240/head for well-bred shorn lambs and it has to be a very small lamb to make under $150 with most light lambs making $160 to $190/head.

Prime lamb prices continue to surprise with many interstate averages sitting between 1100c and 1200c/kg carcass weight and certainly rumours around of forward winter contracts in that price range.

Supply and demand will be the key going forward with uncertainty around the numbers of lambs still out in the paddock.

There have been big numbers bought by both restockers and feeders that are still to come to the market and it will be interesting to see if there is a period when supply outstrips demand.

There is also a train of thought that this won’t happen and there will be a shortage right through to next spring.

The other side of the coin is, will our overseas clients be able to pay the higher prices? We will have to wait and see!

On the cattle front, Elders held their second weaner sale for the autumn last Thursday at Powranna where they yarded 2254 head in which was their White Face Feature sale.

There was a great line up of Hereford and Black Baldy weaners with some other breeds and it was obvious that buyers came especially to buy the white face cattle and they sold to very strong, mainly local, competition.

There were only about 190 cattle bought to go interstate. Heavy weaner steers (330 + kg) made $1800 to $2440 (av.560c), medium (280-330 kg) made $1300 to $1880 (560c), light (200-280 kg) $1040 to $1740 (560c) and very small (under 200 kg) $700 to $1100/head.

Heavy heifer weaners made $1300 to $1780 (420c), medium $1280 to $1440 (440c), light $800 to $1320 (430c) and very small $600 to $900/head.