Spring numbers lift at Bendigo

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Yarding - 29,170

Numbers continue to build at Bendigo with 20,970 lambs and 8200 sheep. The burst of hot weather appears to have taken a toll on the young lambs with more appearing showing dryness in the wool. There was a change in buying pattern today, with more processors keen on heavier new season lambs as the supply of export weight old stock fades out. The heavier young lambs were firm to a few dollars dearer in places. In contrast the general run of trade lambs, and particularly the lighter types under 20kg, were often cheaper by up to $10. In the old season lambs quality dictated price outcomes, with buyers prepared to support the best finished types but still discounting secondary lots. There was a consignment of crossbred old lambs that were declared as seed infested which made $6 and $8.

New season lambs are now dominating supply. The heaviest pens over 30kg cwt from $147 to a top of $158 and were dearer at a ballpark cost of 480c/kg cwt. The main run of heavy young lambs, 26-30kg, $120 to $148 to average $132 also up around 470c to 490c/kg cwt. The best trades in the 22-26kg cwt range which suited top end domestic orders sold from $118 to $135 at an estimated 500c to 510c/kg cwt. However the general run of trade young lambs from $90 to $120 depending on quality at rates around 420-460c/kg. Once under 20kg cwt sales were mostly $60 to $80/head to processors. Ballarat restockers paid to $107 for trade sized lambs to turn-out, while the more genuine sized store lambs were mostly $30 to $60 and were trending cheaper. The smallest lambs sold down to $10/head.

Quality and presentation determined price outcomes for shorn old season lambs. The lead pens were dearer at $120 to $150, but odd lots and secondary types in long skins with limited fat cover where cheaper at $20 to $115/head.

Demand remained subdued for sheep with several buyers not operating fully amid reports meatworks are heavily booked with numbers. Price averages slipped another $5 to $10/head. The highest price was $40, with the majority of sheep from $15 to $35/head. The main category of heavy crossbred ewes averaged $32. Mutton ranged from 60c to 140c/kg cwt.

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