Unfinished new season Lambs red hot at Wagga Wagga

Yarding - 42,000

Recent rainfall has impacted market dynamics, leading to a moderate easing in prices for both lambs and sheep. The quality of the old lamb categories was quite varied, and the 9,980 new season lambs were predominantly store types, typically weighing under 20 kg cwt. While each agent managed to secure a few pens of trade and some heavy young lambs, there were fluctuations in sales. Despite these fluctuations, a significant number of buyers were present, including a couple of major exporters who closely observed the market but did not participate. The market's performance was largely dependent on quality, with shorn grain-fed old lambs fetching premium prices.

New season trade lambs weighing between 20-24 kg experienced erratic bidding but ultimately saw prices improve by $5 to $7, ranging from $250 to $296. Young lambs in the 24-26 kg category were limited, selling for between $298 and $322. Heavy young lambs commanded prices ranging from $332 to $350 per head. Notably, new season lambs intended for paddock feeding or suitable for lot feeders stood out, with buyers making purchases for locations such as Toowoomba, Tamworth, Ballarat, and Loxton in South Australia. Prices increased by $15 to $27 per head. Lambs weighing 16-18 kg sold across a wide price range of $152 to $213, achieving an impressive average of 1,388 c/kg cwt.

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Old trade lambs weighing 21-24 kg, especially if shorn and grain-fed, attracted intense bidding, resulting in price increases of $10 to $15, with sales ranging from $250 to $329 per head, averaging 1,235 c/kg cwt. Similarly, lambs in the 24-26 kg category were in high demand among several processors, leading to a $20 price lift and an average of 1,257 c/kg cwt. A notable decline in heavy export lamb numbers significantly impacted prices, which rose by $16 to $30. The majority of these lambs sold between $316 and $436 per head, averaging 1,235 c/kg cwt.

The yarding of mutton was very mixed; however, there were some outstanding runs of heavy ewes included. Heavy sheep sold between $181 and $273 per head, averaging 719 c/kg cwt. Trade sheep sold for $150 to $178 per head, while plain sheep were priced between $40 and $140 per head.

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