Lamb market started softer but gained momentum at Ballarat

**List your commercial Sheep, Cattle, Rams or Bulls on our Farm Tender Livestock Exchange. Starting at 1.5% commission if you sell. Reach between 5000 - 8,000 potential customers per day. Contact our Livestock Marketing Agent Jack Henshaw on 0407 902 941 for more information

Yarding - 19,787 (-4921)
Lambs - 14,274 (-1216)
Sheep - 5513 (-3705)

Lamb supply decreased slightly to 14,274, with the majority yarded unshorn new season lambs of mostly good to very good quality. Most of the usual buying group attended in a market that started softer to gain momentum as the sale progressed with strong competition from store buyers, putting pressure on processors for the medium and light trade weights to shear and feed on. Overall, the market was firm to $10 dearer for trade lambs and $6 to $15/head for lambs back to the paddock.

Light lambs under 18kg cwt to suit MK orders to the trade sold from $136 to $182, firm to $8/head dearer. Trade lambs 18kg to 22kg sold from $174 to $227 and lambs 22kg to 24kg made from $210 to $248 to be firm to $10/head better, with an average range of 910c to 930c/kg cwt. Heavy lamb 24kg to 26kg sold from $234 to $267, selling firm to a few dollars dearer and with limited numbers for the heavy export, lambs 26kg to 30kg made from $275 to $280/head with and average range of 940c to 955c/kg cwt.

Sheep numbers eased this week with 5,513 yarded, the quality ranged from plain to very good. The market opened very strong with the presence of an exporter back in the market, overall it was $10 to $30/head dearer across most categories. Heavy Merino wethers made from $158 to $215/head with an average range of 640c to 655c/kg cwt. Heavy Merino ewes sold from $172 to $218 to average 620c to 640c and heavy crossbred mutton made $153 to $239/head averaging 615c to 625c/kg cwt.

https://www.bssaa.com.au/