Large Sheep yarding at Wagga Wagga

Yarding - 59,050

Bigger numbers of 36,100 lambs and a notable increase to nearly 23,000 sheep took today’s yarding to just over 59,000 head. The make-up of the offering remained similar, featuring an impressive line-up of heavy fed lambs, limited neat trade types, followed by a mixed run general run. One major domestic buyer didn’t operate, while a southern processor that deals in light and MK style lambs stepped back into the market after an absence. There was little price change over the heavy export lambs, while trade types performed around quality with some stronger sales for neater short-skinned lambs at times but the overall result capped by on-going selective bidding on the woollier and plainer lots. The market improver today was light and store lambs which were up to $10 dearer amid more processor and store buying activity.  

There was plenty of weight in the lead runs of fed export lambs and they sold from $194 to a top of $249.60. Weight above 35kg cwt wasn’t really rewarded, and it was the neater 30-34kg cwt lambs which kept the carcass average up around 680c/kg. The heavy 26-30kg lambs sold from $170 to $217 and showed a bigger price spread depending on quality and when domestic buyers stepped in, averaging around 660c/kg but with select lines to domestic orders at a premium. In the trade run there was bounces above 700c/kg cwt for very neat shaped lambs in short-skins but there was also gaps in the market and the price spread was around 620c to 730c for an overall shandied cost of 670c/kg to processors. Heavy trade lambs $160 to $186, and the mediums $140 to $160/head. Meat buyers supported well finished Merino lambs at up to $186 but were quick to pull back on pens that lacked fat cover and finish. Some of the keenest bidding in the sale was for light and store and feeder lambs. Feeders paid from $140 to $167 for crossbred lambs with frame, while he better presented light lambs were mostly $80 to $135/head. There was still sales of little secondary lambs below $30 at times. 

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All weights and grades were represented in the sheep run, with plenty of weight available on the lead pens of crossbreds and some Merinos. Prices tracked a few dollars either side of last week as the market held its composure. Heavy Merino ewes in full wool topped at $140 while heavy crossbred ewes made from $90 to $131.20/head. The leaner trade and light sheep mostly $60 to $90/head. The price spread for mutton was mostly 280c to 380c/kg, for averages of 300c to 350c/kg across the main categories.

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