Mutton drop at Bendigo

Yarding - 21,330

Supply lifted again amid the on-going dry weather, 13,700 lambs and 7630 sheep for a yarding that increased 8000 head on a week ago. Prices retreated again for all categories. Not all buyers participated or operated fully and the intensity that was in the market in those short public holiday weeks either side of Easter was not evident today. Lamb prices did perform around quality and weight. The best lambs eased $8 to $10, but there was gaps in processor demand for mixed lambs in the 22-28kg cwt range and some of these categories averaged $25/head cheaper compared to the strong sale of a week ago. The best quality lambs and those with weight trended from 800c to 860c/kg cwt, while the general run of trades ranged from 750c to 800c/kg cwt. The price roller-coaster for sheep played on.

After big gains last Monday heavy sheep were $30 to $50/head cheaper again while trade and light mutton gave back $15 to $25/head. Fed lambs with good fat cover and weight still attracted the best demand. Limited pens of export lambs over 30kg cwt from $256 to a top of $294/head. Once under 28kg cwt bidding tended to be more hit and miss. The main run of heavy lambs, 26-30kg cwt, varied from $200 to $255/head. Best heavy trades $191 to $222/head. This was followed by the general run of mixed trades at $162 to $200/head, with the estimated average for the main run of 22-24kg cwt crossbreds at 795c/kg cwt.

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Light lambs gave back $5 to $10 and there was more sales to feeders at $140 to $173/head for lambs with frame size to go onto grain. Smaller mixed lambs mostly $80 to $130/head. There was a couple of laneways of handy trade Merino lambs in this sale, the best $175 to $206/head at a ballpark 730c to 750c/kg cwt.

Mutton was significantly cheaper again on a yarding that didn’t quite have the weight or finish of last Monday - more light sheep appearing. Heavy ewes and wethers with fat cover still sold at the best at $156 to a top of $224/head for pens with a big wool rebate. Heavy mutton tracked either side of 600c/kg cwt. Most trade and light sheep ranged from 420c to 570c/kg cwt at $90 to $140/head; very light ewes $50 to $80/head.

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