Buyer focus on new season Lambs at Bendigo

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More numbers as the spring flush starts to build. New season lambs are now dominating and quality was generally very good to excellent in the lead drafts. A full buying field attended and competition was stronger particularly from a couple of domestic processors amid reports the wet weather has disrupted the transport of lambs being sold direct. Most of the buying energy was focused on heavier young lambs over 24kg cwt and these were $5 to $10 dearer. Tradeweight young lambs were up to $12 easier as the premium carcass prices achieved a week ago faded out of the market. On paper young store lambs were cheaper however there wasn't the quality or big one-mark drafts of a week ago which tended to distort the figures. Any quality old season lambs with weight were dearer, while plainer and clean-up lots were cheaper.

The heaviest young lambs over 30kg cwt sold from $240 to a top of $250 at an estimated cost of 760c/kg cwt. The heavy 24-30kg cwt young lambs attracted the most buying depth with the majority from $200 to $240/head at estimated averages of 800c to 820c/kg cwt. The medium young trade lambs mostly $160 to $190 with carcass costs not as high as last week at 800c to 840c/kg. Very few genuine store lambs were available with the few pens to the paddock from $112 to $137/head.

Export old season lambs sold to $250 with most of better presented heavy types, 26-30kg, from $206 to $236/head at an estimated cost of 750c to 780c/kg cwt. Plainer and mixed lots of old season lambs were cheaper.

Sheep numbers increased and heavy mutton prices were cheaper by up to $25/head. Light sheep, however, were firm to dearer. Heavy ewes mostly $137 to $184 with just one pen of extra large crossbred ewes to $215/head. Light mutton $100 to $125/head. In carcass price terms heavy mutton was estimated at 480c to 520c/kg, while light mutton was at 550c to 590c/kg.

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