Farm Tender

Bendigo Sheep and Lambs - Buyer depth for Mutton lacking and Lamb prices ease

Yarding - 40,000 (+9,000).
Lambs - 24,000 (+5,000).
Sheep - 16,000 (+4,000).

Lamb numbers increased to 24,000 alongside a bigger offering of sheep that pushed the total yarding to 40,000 head again. Apart from a limited run of first draft young lambs from southern grazing areas, lamb quality was generally plainer than a week ago as the dry conditions impact quality and presentation. With Hamilton in the Western District now selling of a Monday the buying ranks were split, however all the regular processing companies were still represented at Bendigo. Demand was easier, with not a lot of urgency shown for numbers. Buyers did favour the better finished southern lambs over the plainer types showing the effects of the dry, which resulted in a fluctuating market. The heaviest young lambs were $20/head cheaper over a limited quote. Trade weights lambs above 22kg cwt trended $8 to $16 lower, while well-bred light lambs were well supported by stockers to only ease $2 to $5/head.

About 10 pens of heavy young lambs weighing over 27kg cwt sold from $200 to a top of $216/head. The best run of crossbred young lambs in the 24-26kg cwt category sold from $171 to $189 to average around $180/head. The medium 22-24kg cwt lambs mostly made from $155 to $176 to average around $163/head. On a carcase basis the best presented slaughter lambs were making an estimated 670c to 720c/kg, while the plainer types displaying dryness were tracking between 620c to 660c/kg for most. Restocker demand supported the well-bred lines of lighter weight lambs, which mostly made from $115 to $136/head to the paddock. The volume order for store lambs was from Lake Cargellico in NSW, where the lambs will reportedly go into irrigation, followed by Swan Hill, Yarrawonga, Bendigo and Echuca. The smallest and plainest lambs to restockers sold at cheaper levels.

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The sheep yarding featured some outstanding heavy Merino ewes, as well as the usual selection of plainer types reflecting the season. Buyer depth for mutton was lacking, with not all processors following the sale or operating to capacity. The market did fluctuate but was cheaper, with most sheep $5 to $12/head easier. Very light plain ewes did suffer more severe discounting. Some very heavy Merino ewes and wethers sold from $120 to a top of $155, with the bulk of the better tradeweight types from $90 to $116/head. On a carcase basis the best mutton was estimated at 370c to 410c/kg, with discounting obvious for secondary lots, off bred types and small pen-lots.