$428 record at Ballarat

Yarding: 26,449

The lamb supply decreased to 19,951 head, with well-finished types featuring the best weight and fat cover becoming harder to find. As a result, buyers had to remain competitive for the leading lambs, leading to a new record price of $428 per head for a pen of extra-heavy fed crossbred lambs, estimated to weigh around 40 kg carcass weight (cwt). Four pens of lambs sold for over $400 per head during a single agent's run. On a carcass basis, the sale showed a softer trend. The heavy lamb categories averaged an estimated 1050 to 1090 cents per kg cwt, compared to over $11 per kg recorded the previous Tuesday. However, one buyer noted, "It might not have been as extreme, but it was still exceptionally good."

Price variability was more pronounced among mixed trade lambs weighing under 24 kg cwt. Prices for these lambs ranged from 900 to 1100 cents per kg, depending on quality and finish. Buyers were ‘top and tailing’ to achieve an average buying cost around 1000 cents per kg cwt. Feeder and store lambs were a few dollars cheaper, driven by more selective buying based on breed type and quality, though the best pens remained close to firm. The new Victorian price record of $428 per head was set for a pen of 102 second-cross Poll Dorset lambs. Most export lambs sold for between $320 and $388 per head, averaging $360 per head at about 1055 cents per kg cwt. Heavy lambs weighing 26-30 kg cwt ranged from $270 to $334 per head, with some strong outcomes in this category as domestic buyers competed for neat lots.

What's keeping Farmers awake at night? Join The Farmers Club here. 

Best heavy trade lambs weighing 24-26 kg cwt fetched between $245 and $288 per head, with the top pens occasionally exceeding 1100 cents per kg. Bidding became more selective for the general run of trade lambs, with those in the 22-24 kg cwt category selling for $212 to $265 per head at prices ranging from 920 to just over 1100 cents per kg cwt, resulting in a shandied average of 1020 cents per kg cwt. Feeders were willing to pay between $150 and $205 per head for the best-framed and bred lambs intended for grain feeding, while lighter and smaller store lambs mostly sold from $80 to $140 per head.

Sheep supply remained consistent, but it was notable that many lacked weight and fat cover, with the majority being in plain fat score 1 and 2 condition. Price outcomes were in a similar range to the previous week. One pen of heavy meat ewes topped at $266 per head, while most lead crossbred and composite ewes sold for between $180 and $250 per head, and the best Merino ewes fetched between $174 and $208 per head. Leaner conditioned trade sheep were sold for $130 to $170 per head, with the lightest ewes ranging from $60 to $125 per head. Most mutton was estimated to be between 620 to 685 cents per kg cwt, with the top end exceeding 700 cents per kg.

https://www.bssaa.com.au/