Only a modest price correction for Lambs in a large offering at Bendigo this week

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Yarding - 40,974 (+17,947).

Lambs - 26,974 (+9070).

Sheep - 14,000 (+8877).

Big lift in numbers as farmers reacted to the strong lamb and mutton markets and drying seasonal conditions. Nearly 27,000 lambs were yarded, the bulk being unshorn new season stock from within a 20km radius of Bendigo. Quality across the lead drafts remained impressive, but with the bigger numbers came more plainer lambs showing some dryness in the skin. The best heavy young lambs sold at similar price levels, and there was just modest price corrections of $3 to $5/head across most of the trade weights as the market held up remarkably well. A public holiday in NSW on the same day may have helped by cancelling some of the regular Monday markets. There was some extra buyers at Bendigo this week.

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Heavy young lambs 30kg and better, sold from $227 to $248/head. The heavy 26kg to 30kg pens sold from $215 to $235, followed by a range of $196 to $225/head for the good 24kg to 26kg lambs. The main run of fat score 4 trade weights, 22kg to 24kg sold from $174 to$201 to average $189/head. Carcass averages of 770c to 800c/kg cwt were consistent across most weights and grades, including young lambs under 22kg which mostly made from $140 to $170/head. Stock agents from Ballarat were in attendance and paid from $170 to $202/head for heavy trade lambs to shear. Still not a lot of light weight young lambs available. A draft of young first-cross ewe lambs from the Yea area sold to $154/head which on size represented around $10kg, and were purchased by a Shepparton agency as future breeders.

Significant jump in sheep numbers, drawn out by the rising mutton prices of the past week. There was plenty of weight across both the merino and crossbred sections, with light weight sheep in limited supply. The market was firm to dearer again, with two northern processors driving competition on the best heavy sheep. Extra large crossbred ewes weighing up to 45kg sold from $200 to a top of $241 with buyers applying some penalties for very fat sheep that wouldn't travel as well. The main run of heavy Merino ewes $155 to $202 to average $170/head at an estimated 620c/kg cwt. There was some big price gains across the leaner trade weight sheep amid tight supplies. Averages for most sheep were between 570c to 650c/kg cwt, depending on size, breed and quality

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