Slightly off at Wagga Wagga

Yarding - 43,000

This week, numbers at the sale declined moderately, and the quality of the lambs was quite variable. Buyers encountered a mix of clean-up lots alongside rougher lambs with longer skins, leading to fluctuating competition based on quality. Despite this mixed offering, some excellent heavy export and trade lambs managed to match last week’s prices.

Approximately 4,400 young lambs were offered, with a significant portion weighing under 20 kg cwt. All lightweight lambs were quickly purchased by restockers and feedlots looking to finish or resell them. Overall buyer interest varied based on fat cover and skin length, with the better-quality, shorter-skinned lambs attracting the most competition. New-season trade lambs in the 20-24 kg range sold for $220 to $280 per head. Heavier young lambs fetched between $305 and $330 per head. Prices for old trade lambs were erratic at times, with those in the 20-24 kg range selling for between $198 and $298 per head. There was a good supply of Merino trade lambs, including a decent selection of grain-fed options. The better-quality Merino lambs, with good fat cover, sold for $195 to $280 per head. Young lambs suitable for restockers and feedlots made between $118 and $208 per head.

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Export competition was strongest for the heaviest lambs with shorter skins. Lambs weighing 26-30 kg sold for $12 per head less than last week, ranging from $323 to $396 per head. Very heavy lambs over 30 kg cwt sold for $390 to $420 per head, with some of these export sales matching last week’s levels.

The yarding of mutton displayed very mixed quality, with all weights and grades represented. Heavy mutton sold to strong northern competition, ranging from $188 to $300 per head. Large heavy ewes averaged 776 cents per kg cwt. Trade sheep sold between $151 and $189 per head, while light sheep ranged from $104 to $151 per head.

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