Farm Tender

Bulk of the Bendigo yarding trended at rates $5 to $15/head easier

Yarding - 11,000 (-2000).
Lambs - 9000 (Same).
Sheep - 2000 (-2000).

Similar number of lambs, but the make-up of the yarding changed with about half the offering being new season stock. All agents led their runs with young lambs, and quality was very good with most presenting above 22kg cwt and in very forward condition. All the regular orders were present, with the exception of one Victorian exporter. Price trends varied. The heaviest old season lambs gained $5/head, boosted by more interstate buying activity. But the bulk of the yarding trended at rates $5 to $15/head easier than a week ago.

In the new season lambs there was little dollar per head price difference between domestic and export weighed pens. The heaviest young lambs, up to 29kg cwt, sold to $168 while the heavy trades went higher to top at $172/head. Only a few dollars separated category averages.

Young lambs weighing over 26kg cwt averaged $168, while the main run of 24 to 26kg lambs averaged $167 and the 22 to 24kg pens around$165/head. A limited selection of lighter young lambs sold from $127 to $145 to processors, with one pen selling to the paddock at $114/head. On a carcass basis the heaviest young lambs started at around 600c, with rates improving to sit between 640c and 700c/kg cwtfor more nicely weighted domestic types.

The heaviest old season crossbred lambs sold from $170 to a top of $196, with a pen of export sized Merinos making $192/head. However, with most major domestic buyers focusing on young lambs, competition across heavy and medium weight trade lambs did ease. There was alot of sales from $150 to $170/head, with carcass rates varying from 500c to 600c/kg cwt depending on weight, breed type and quality. There were very few light weight lambs and these were dearer to processors.

Sheep numbers dropped away again, influenced by the cheaper rates and rain. The heaviest sheep sold at similar rates, while some plainer ewes were cheaper. Big crossbred ewes made from $150 to $185, and heavy Merino ewes sold from $130 to $175/head to be averaging between 500c and 520c/kg cwt.

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