Quality in decline at Ballarat

Yarding: 13,550

The winter yarding included 8,250 lambs and 5,300 sheep, which were similar in size to previous weeks. The quality of the livestock was declining, with heavier, well-conditioned lambs being in the minority among a larger amount of lighter stock that lacked sufficient fat cover. Not all buyers were active in a market that experienced similar to softer price outcomes compared to the previous week. However, the overall price ranges remained consistent, with an estimated 1,100 to 1,200 cents per kilogram for the best trade and heavy slaughter lambs, and from 950 to 1,050 cents per kilogram for most lighter and mixed lambs.

A few heavy export lambs sold for $340 to $405, but these were often in small quantities per pen. The main run of heavy crossbred lambs went for $290 to $370 per head, while good trade lambs sold for $250 to $290 per head. Overall, there was strong buyer competition for lambs that offered good shape and reasonable fat cover. Most of the yarding consisted of mixed breed and lighter lambs weighing under 21 kg carcass weight (cwt).

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Light lambs with some shape and frame sold for mostly $150 to $210 per head, while very light conditioned types varied between $60 and $145 per head, depending on quality and weight. Merino lambs fetched up to $245, although many of this breed were in plainer condition, resulting in sales generally below $200.

The mutton run also struggled with a lack of sheep that had weight and condition, leading to a weaker market. The majority of sales were around 700 cents per kilogram cwt. A few pens of heavier crossbred ewes sold for $210 to $245 per head, while Merino ewes in wool reached $199 per head. Lean trade sheep mostly sold for $150 to $190 per head, with very light conditioned ewes going for $70 to $140 per head.

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