Big gains for Mutton on a small sample size at Ballarat

Yarding: 10,602

Lamb numbers declined slightly to 5,824, with just over half being new season lambs. The overall quality was mostly good to excellent, although there was variation among the new season and older lambs, with some being plain and others good. Smaller cleanup lots were lacking in weight and shape. Not all the usual buyers were present, and many were inactive in a rather erratic market.

New season lambs sold firmly, with prices ranging from $220 to $339, averaging between 1,100c and 1,224c per kilogram (kg) carcass weight (cwt). One pen even sold for $354 per head. Restockers purchased lambs for prices ranging from $40 to $174, while feeders paid between $176 and $247 per head.

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Older lambs sold for between $100 and $276 per head, which was $10 to $25 lower than previous prices, with an average range of 900c to 1,020c/kg cwt. Heavy export lambs, weighing between 26kg and 30kg, fetched prices from $271 to $336 per head, also reflecting a $25 decrease.

Sheep numbers decreased to 4,778, with mixed quality observed. An additional buyer was present in a very buoyant market. Merino wethers sold for between $155 and $230, gaining $20 to $30 per head. Merino ewes had prices ranging from $90 to $217, which was an increase of $10 to $25 per head, averaging from 770c to 880c/kg cwt. Crossbred mutton was sold for between $100 and $290, with prices increasing by $25 per head.

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