Lack of buying intensity at Wagga Wagga

Yarding - 62,150

This week’s lamb yarding was fair to very good, with many new season lambs showing freshness and good yields. A notable supply of store lambs weighing under 20kg carcass weight was also present, contributing to a varied market landscape. In contrast, older lambs had mixed results; however, achieving good prices at market hinged on weight and short skins. The market lacked intensity, especially after a significant southern processor stopped buying young lambs midway through the sale, which considerably altered market dynamics and led to notable price declines in some areas.

For new season trade lambs weighing between 20-24kg, prices dropped by up to $20, demonstrating a wide variance in pricing across different trade weight categories. Most of these lambs sold between $198 and $278, averaging 1,076 cents per kilogram (c/kg) carcass weight (cwt). In the 24-26kg range, prices ranged from $260 to $299 per head. Heavy lambs, weighing 26kg and above, saw a slight price decrease of $4, with sales between $290 and $335 per head.

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The store market faced challenges this week, particularly with several southern buyers absent, affecting pricing outcomes. Store lambs with some weight and frame returning to pasture or feed fetched between $162 and $261 per head. Old lambs exhibited fluctuating trends. Trade lambs in the 20-24kg category sold for prices ranging from $182 to $258, while heavy export lambs commanded prices between $269 and $340 per head. Merino lambs with some weight found buyers at prices from $190 to $244 per head, and heavy Merino lambs achieved a range of $260 to $300 per head.

There was a good yarding of mutton, with a large percentage consisting of heavy ewes. Not all buyers were participating in a cheaper market. Heavy mutton sold for $11 to $13 less than in previous weeks, making between $171 and $247, averaging 642 c/kg cwt. The better covered trade types attracted a few more buyers, selling for $156 to $174 and averaging 673 c/kg cwt.

https://wagga.nsw.gov.au/business-investment/council-businesses/livestock-marketing-centre