Down a little at Ballarat

Yarding: 15,079

Lamb numbers remained steady, with 9,400 penned, although the quality was variable. A significant portion of the yarding consisted of plainer types with rough skins and insufficient weight. Lambs that had been fed on grain were in excellent condition, but they did not weigh as much as in previous weeks. All the usual buyers participated in a softer market across most categories. Store lambs sold for $5 to $14 per head less than last week.

Light trade lambs decreased in price by $5 to $20, medium trade lambs sold for $8 less, and heavy trade lambs were down $10 to $15. While quality was a contributing factor to the lower prices, there were still some sales that reached last week's price levels. Heavy export lambs were in very limited supply and sold for a maximum of $439, trading firm but down by $10.

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Feeders and restockers paid between under $100 and $198 per head. Light trade lambs were priced from $92 to $190, medium trade from $189 to $256, and heavy trade from $216 to $330, generating an average range of 950 to 1150 cents per kilogram carcass weight (cwt). Heavy export lambs weighing over 26 to 30 kg sold for $315 to $393, and those over 30 kg made between $370 and $439 per head, with a wide range of 1150 to 1300 cents/kg cwt. Merino lambs sold for $96 to $244 per head.

Sheep numbers increased to 5,679 penned. The quality improved, with a good run of Merino ewes and wethers on offer. The market opened softer; however, it gained momentum, resulting in mixed outcomes. Merino wethers sold for $64 to $148 for lighter weights and $138 to $270 for heavier weights, gaining $5 to $10 per head. Light-weight and frame Merino ewes were priced from $50 to $139, decreasing by $5 to $10, while heavier Merino ewes made $142 to $264, gaining $20 per head in some places. Light-weight crossbred mutton sold for $85 to $179, and heavier weights ranged from $189 to $294, reflecting a decrease of $5 to $25 per head.

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