Grain-fed Lambs lead the way at Bendigo

Yarding - 14,275

The supply of lambs declined to 9,575, and the overall quality of lambs was also lower, with more winter-type lambs presented in smaller pen lots. Two major exporters were absent, along with a top-end domestic buyer that operated last week. As a result, this sale lacked the energy of last Monday's record-breaking event in Bendigo. Although many lamb averages eased, there was minimal price change for the top-quality grain-fed lambs, which sold for up to $390 per head. Strong supermarket competition helped push the best heavy trades to $315 per head, yielding a very robust result.

Overall, this sale was driven more by quality, with less buyer demand for plainer and mixed lots, causing prices to dip compared to recent levels. The best lots of processing lambs weighing over 24 kg cwt sold within a range of 1,000 to 1,100 cents per kg cwt, with select pens of very neat trade lambs reaching 1,100 to 1,200 cents per kg cwt at times. However, plainer crossbred lambs were in the 920 to 1,000 cents per kg cwt range, contributing to the overall decline in average prices compared to a week ago. A similar trend was observed for Merino lambs; while top grain-fed Merinos remained stable at 900 to 1,000 cents per kg cwt, plainer types with less weight and finish saw a decrease in value. Heavy export lambs sold for between $309 and $390 per head, averaging an estimated 1,050 to 1,080 cents per kg cwt, with one southern meatworks—typically not a buyer of the heaviest lead stock—entering the market.

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Heavy lambs weighing between 26-30 kg cwt ranged from $260 to $330 per head, with the best heavy trades between $255 and $315 per head, making this section the highlight of the market. Conversely, for lambs under 24 kg cwt, there were softer outcomes for the general run of light and medium trade lambs off grass, priced between $185 and $240 per head, often trending below 1,000 cents per kg cwt. Grain-fed trade Merino lambs fetched between $214 and $260 per head, while trade Merino lambs with less fat cover and weight mostly sold for $160 to $205 per head. Restockers and feeders paid between $155 and $194 for better-bred and framed lambs to feed on, while some lines of very light-conditioned and mixed-breed small lambs were priced between $46 and $130 per head.

The mutton sale was cheaper, with most grades of sheep averaging below 690 cents per kg cwt, although a few better-quality lots of ewes in very prime condition (scores 3 and 4) sold for above 700 cents per kg cwt. Heavy crossbred ewes ranged from $210 to $280 per head; the leaner heavy and trade sheep sold for $130 to $185 per head, while the lightest ewes were priced between $44 and $120 per head.

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