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The sheep market reached new price levels today, diverting some attention from the record winter lamb market. Mutton prices increased by $20 to $40 per head, bringing estimated costs for the main runs to between 840c and 950c per kilogram carcass weight (cwt). These higher prices were achieved despite a larger offering of 8,250 sheep, with not all buyers participating as the market rose to carcass levels previously unrecorded at Bendigo.

In the lamb market, prices remained similar to last week, with heavy and trade lambs selling in the range of 1,200c to 1,300c/kg cwt. Some top-quality pens even reached 1,350c as quality stock became increasingly scarce. Bendigo saw its first pens of new season lambs, with one draft estimated at 26kg cwt selling for $340 per head, and another estimated at 24kg cwt making $323 per head, both trending around 1,300c/kg cwt on a $4 skin. Buyers were still uncertain about values for young, unshorn skins.

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For the general run of mixed trade crossbred lambs and well-fed Merino lambs, prices remained steady at 1,050c to 1,180c/kg cwt. However, some of the lighter lambs that lacked breed quality or adequate fat cover were cheaper in certain cases. Export lambs ranged from $324 to a peak of $450 per head, with the best-finished pens averaging around 1,220c/kg cwt. The main run of heavy lambs, weighing 26-30kg cwt, sold for $285 to $374 per head, also averaging just over 1,200c/kg cwt. The best heavy trade lambs fetched between $300 and $344 per head, showing increases in certain areas due to limited supplies. The main run of trade lambs, weighing 22-24kg cwt, sold for $254 to $315 per head, while quality fed trade weight Merino lambs sold for up to $305, with estimates above 1,100c/kg cwt. Lighter trade lambs priced between $190 and $237 per head, followed by mixed light lambs at $140 to $185 for most. Secondary light lambs were priced from $75 to $130 per head, while the smallest and plainest Merino lambs went down to $35 per head.

The sheep market opened at exceptionally strong levels before bidding steadied. Not all processors purchased mutton, and bidding was at times erratic as buyers tried to assess the new values. Occasionally, sheep were estimated around 1,000c/kg cwt. Heavy crossbred ewes sold for $260, reaching up to $362 per head, while the leading Merino ewes sold for $250 to $327 per head. Below these, a lot of trade sheep were priced between $160 and $230 per head, and the lightest mutton ranged from $85 to $150 per head.

https://www.bendigo.vic.gov.au/Services/Bendigo-Livestock-Exchange