The Train keeps rolling at Ballarat

Yarding: 33,344

Lamb numbers surged to 26,400 penned, following last week’s buoyant market, setting another sales record for extra heavy lambs in Ballarat. The quality of the lambs varied, with some plainer types lacking condition, while others were exceptionally well-finished lambs that had been fed well. All regular buyers were active in what was another strong market across the yarding.

Store buyers were notably active, with feeder and restocker lambs selling firm, with prices rising by up to $10. Light trade lambs sold mostly at steady prices, with a few decreasing slightly. Medium and heavy trade lambs gained significant interest, especially for well-finished short skin lambs, which increased in price by $10 to $20 per head. Throughout the yarding, select lambs were sold for close to and over 1300 cents per kilogram carcass weight (cwt). Extra heavy lambs increased by $25 per head, contributing to a new record in Ballarat, with a pen of extra heavy lambs selling for $424 per head, estimated at 39 to 40 kg cwt.

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Lambs returning to the paddock were priced between $46 and $168, while lambs intended for feeding sold for between $165 and $208 per head. Light trade lambs weighing under 18 kg, suitable for market orders, were priced from $150 to $195 per head. Trade lambs weighing 18 to 22 kg sold for $190 to $268 per head; those weighing 22 to 26 kg sold for $230 to $325, with an average price range from 950 to 1160 cents per kilogram cwt. Heavy export lambs, weighing 26 to 30 kg, made between $294 and $370, while those over 30 kg sold for $340 to $424 per head, averaging between 1100 and 1160 cents per kilogram cwt. There was an increase in the number of Merino lambs offered, which sold for between $96 and $213 per head.

Mutton numbers also rose to 6,940 penned, with mixed quality in another very strong market. Not all buyers were active, but sales reached over 800 cents per kilogram cwt throughout the yarding. Merino wethers sold from $37 to $149 for the lighter weights, while heavier Merino wethers sold from $144 to $205 per head. Light-weight and frame ewes achieved prices from $70 to $158 for Merino and $80 to $168 for Crossbreds, averaging between 630 and 740 cents per kilogram cwt. Heavy Merino ewes were priced between $160 and $240, while heavy Crossbreds ranged from $162 to $297 per head, averaging between 740 and 790 cents per kilogram cwt.

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