Lamb bidding intensified because of the short week at Bendigo

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Less numbers came forward following further rain. Competition from the regular buying group intensified as the wet weather and sale cancellations later this week due to public holidays meant some processors were short of numbers. Heavy young lamb lambs firm to $5 to $10 dearer while some of the neatest trades lifted by up to $20/head. Bidding did fluctuate, however, and not all pens recorded such strong price rises with buyers still selective on breed type and finish at times. Old season lambs were very mixed as tail-end drafts are sold and prices did perform around quality, the best pens firm to slightly dearer but secondary types often cheaper.

Extra heavy new season lambs sold to a top of $270 for crossbreds that had been weaned onto grain and estimated at 34kg cwt. Demand was strongest on the more nicely weighted 20-28kg cwt processing lambs which consistently sold between 800c to 850c/kg cwt, with peaks as high as 890c on some trade pens in the 20-22kg weight range. In dollar per head terms the heavy young lambs 26-30kg cwt, mostly $219 to $244, the 24-26kg $205 to $222, the 22-24kg $187 to $215 and the fresh 20-22kg $172 to $196/head. Very few store lambs were available, some sales showing a dearer trend at $130 to $161 to the paddock but on limited numbers. Old season lambs sold to a top of $235/head and there was a wide carcass price spread based around quality, finish, and number in a pen.

Plenty of weight in the sheep offering and export competition was subdued with not all buyers operating. Big crossbred ewes lost up to $17/head selling from $140 to $165. Heavy Merino ewes in higher value skins sold between $154 to $185/head. General run of medium sheep $120 to $148, and the few light lots down to $86/head. Most mutton sales tracked between 400c to 520c/kg cwt.

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