Lamb quality described as disappointing at Bendigo

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Yarding - 22,100

Lamb numbers dropped back to 17,130 head, down nearly 9500 on a week ago in this disrupted Melbourne Cup holiday week. Of more concern noted by buyers and agents was a big decline in quality, with hardly any heavy or even ‘neat’ trade lambs available. Even the southern lambs coming in from places like Kilmore were described as being “dissapointing’’. On the demand side one major exporter and a key domestic order didn’t operate. Prices did perform around quality. The best young lambs were firm to slightly easier, while the general run of trades in the 20-24kg cwt range often lost $5 to $10 - quality a factor. The lighter weight lambs sill received solid processing support for MK orders, while any well bred lines of small store lambs to the paddock were dearer.

There was a top of $176 for a pen of export young lambs estimated at 32-34kg cwt. The next best price was $163 and there was only five sales above $150, highlighting the lack of weight across the yarding. Overall, any of the fresher conditioned young lambs above 24kg cwt were similar to slightly easier at an estimated 480c to 520c/kg cwt. The good 24-26kg lambs at $120 to $137/head. Where the market lost momentum was on the general run of trades in the 20-24kg cwt category with a lot of sales from $84 to $115/head for a range of 420c to 480c/kg cwt. Light MK style lambs to processors mostly $50 to $80. Lines of small but well bred young crossbred lambs to restockers $36 to $75 to average $55/head. Some bigger lines of young but light Merino lambs, unshorn, came in and sold from $34 to $62/head.

Demand for mutton remained dull, with bidding only lifting for a few pens of ewes which were pushed-out by restockers to reach $40 and $51. The bulk of sheep sold in a range of $15 to $35 regardless of weight. On a carcass basis heavy mutton was generally under 100c/kg cwt, with leaner trade sheep better supported at times.

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