Farm Tender

Contrasting Lamb Market at Bendigo

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Yarding - 20,100 (-7600)
Lambs - 15,600 (-3600)
Sheep - 4500 (-4000)

Smaller yarding for the last pre-Christmas sale, with 15,500 lambs and 4500 sheep. Aside from the lead pens of shorn lambs, quality in the lamb run was just plain to average and the bulk of the numbers were store types needing further finishing. A northern exporter didn't purchase and one southern processor was also absent from the regular buying group. Demand for heavy lambs was limited and agents did pass-in several pens, while support for the best trade weighted lambs was still reasonable. The overall price trend for processing lambs was firm to $10/head easier on secondary types. In contrast to this, demand for store lambs lifted and prices were up to $10/head dearer, with small lambs selling exceptionally well at high c/kg price rates.

The main run of heavy shorn lambs, 26-30kg cwt, from $234 to $256/head at an estimated average of 850c/kg cwt. The better presented heavy trade lambs sold in a range of $205 to $235, with secondary and lighter domestic lambs from $175 to $190/head. Most lamb categories were averaging between 800c to 850c, with the peak of the market around 880c/kg cwt for select pens of trade weights. There was southern and northern competition for store lambs which sold to Horsham, Wycheproof, Bendigo, Kavina and into the NSW areas of Wagga Wagga and Albury. Store lambs showing reasonable frame consistently made from $160 to $175, with smaller types mostly $130 to $155/head. Some
bigger lines of very young and light lambs sold from $90 to $120/head, which on size and weight were working out at very high c/kg rates.

Less sheep but demand also fell away amid reports most processors have covered their kill orders for mutton leading into Christmas. Prices were $20 to $40/head cheaper with only a handful of buyers operating. Heavy sheep $135 to $175, and trades and light types $70 to $130/head, with most mutton estimated between 450c to 550c/kg cwt.

The opening Bendigo sale for 2022 is scheduled for Monday, January 10

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