Slim pickings but positive at Ballarat

Yarding: 9089

Lamb and sheep numbers increased, with a combined total of 9,089. Each agent had a few pens of well-finished lambs off feed; however, the quality declined quickly to plainer lots that were lacking in weight and shape, with limited numbers in all categories. Not all the usual buyers were present, but those who attended were active in a buoyant market, leading to mixed results.

Light and medium lambs sold firmly, with prices $5 higher, while heavy trade gained significant interest, especially for the neat short skins, which sold for $10 to $15 more than last week. In contrast, the plainer lots sold for $5 per head either side of firm. Heavy export lambs reached prices of up to $370 per head, although there was not as much weight offered this week.

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One agent presented a small number of new season lambs, which sold between $266 and $320 per head, averaging over 1200c/kg cwt. Feeders and restockers paid prices ranging from $55 to $190 per head. Light trade sold for $126 to $200, while medium trade made between $184 and $256. Heavy trade prices ranged from $220 to $323 per head, resulting in a wide average range from 1000c to 1175c, with some sales reaching 1250c/kg cwt. Heavy export lambs over 26 kg sold for prices ranging from $322 to $370, with plainer lots selling from $280 to $314 per head.

Merino wethers sold for $126 to $182, while Merino ewes made between $41 and $230, gaining $10 per head. Crossbred mutton sold from $91 to $250, with heavier weights selling for $8 to $15 more.

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