LAMB prices rose this week due to supply and demand factors, but whether it can be sustained, or if the market is still on edge, is yet to be seen.
Numbers offered in yards across the state fell faster than prices went up.
Ouyen’s latest sale saw just 3062 head yarded – 2549 lambs and 513 mutton – but that didn’t look so lean when compared with Bendigo’s two most recent sales, each offering fewer than 4800 lambs.
Across the market, the better processing lambs finished $10 to $20 dearer at Bendigo in a solid outcome – some pens jumped a whopping $30 against previous flat sales.
Ouyen followed suit, with exchange manager Jacqui Gibson reporting heavy lambs by between $5 and $15, trade lambs went $10 to $15 higher and mutton was firm.
The National Livestock Reporting Service said a stronger trend started to seep into the market late last week, with rates in Wagga in the Riverina up to $15 higher.
Unfortunately the Griffith sale was cancelled, with other selling centres, such as Ouyen and across to Swan Hill, offered reduced numbers.
The price rally took most trade and heavy processing lambs above 570c/kg carcase weight, with several sales recording averages above 600c/kg for the best lambs in the domestic carcase weight band of 22-26kg.
At the Ouyen sale some of the best results included the following:
OLD LAMBS:
• Export $140 – $180 (485 – 530c/kg)
• Trade $100 – $151 (510 – 600c/kg)
• Store Light $82 – $100
MERINO:
• Heavy $134 – $145 (500 – 530c/kg)
MUTTON
• Light $70 – $85 (350 – 400c/kg)
• Heavy $70 – $100 (280 – 300c/kg)
On the day the BR&C and Nutrien Ag catalogue saw the following results:
CROSSBRED LAMBS: G Munro, Ouyen, saw a pen of 46 realise $165; G Munro, Ouyen, had 89 go for $162 while F & L Latta, Walpeup, had 23 at $153 and P Farnsworth, Underbool, saw their line of 25 fetch $152.
DORPER LAMBS: A R Kay Trust, Meringur, topped the category with a pen of 32 realising $134 while M & C Heintze, Murrayville, made $120 for a pen of 28.
MERINO LAMBS: A R Kay Trust, Meringur, starred again, this time with 56 head making $145, while Tempy’s M Burns saw an offering of 74 reach $142.
MUTTON: The best price here went to a cross-border customer, with B & J Watson, Pinnaroo, making $110 for their 84 head.
In the Elders catalogue, the big business was with the crossbred lambs, which saw the sale high amid some strong competition:
CROSSBRED LAMBS: B & C O’Callaghan, Ouyen, topped the day with 65 lambs knocked down for $180. Other sales included Brown Ag, Underbool, realising $178 for a pen of 38; Richwood Farms, Carwarp, sold 20 head at $172; B & C O’Callaghan, Ouyen, also set a solid pace with $171 for a line of 74 crossies; CM & RK Lockett, Underbool, sold 21 at $170; Brown Ag, Underbool, had a second strong pen of 83 fetching $170, just $8 below their high for another 38 head. B & C O’Callaghan, Ouyen, backed up their $171 for 74 sheep with $169 for a pen of 29; K & J Grayling, Walpeup, saw 20 knocked down at $165; P W Lonergan, Kiamal, sold a big line of 99 for $165 and P E Kay, Ouyen, had a pen of 23 fetching $165.
MERINO LAMBS: Richwood Farms from Carwarp saw its pen of 24 head this category of the Elders offering at $140; while Fitzpatrick Partners from Walpeup saw 54 head sell for $124.
MUTTON: The small numbers here saw LJ & RC Plant, Annuello, cash in with $100 for a bigger line of 115 and WMD & SM Small, from Lameroo across the border, let 26 go for $85.
The next Ouyen sale is set for July 20.
