Store lamb numbers lifted last Monday, and long term types sold at very high levels. Cattle numbers also increased though the market held.
While store lambs have been slow to come out, 1500 were offered last Monday, and demand was high. Ewe lambs made $68-$74, male $74-$81, and mixed sex $70-$87, with the light lines selling well over $3/kg. A good sized yarding of prime lambs held their value at $90-$129, and male primes also sold to high demand at $70-$110.
Demand for ewes continued to work in vendor’s favour, with most making $70-$119, and few trading under $60.
The rostrum was busy as the cattle sales wind up to the Christmas break. Buyers took full advantage of the bigger numbers and prices were solid. Most steers sold over a tight range at $2.75-$2.85/kg, while Angus heifers, 500-615kg, made the same money. Most other beef heifers made $2.66-$2.80/kg, and Friesian, 555-605kg, fetched $2.59-$2.69/kg.
Cow prices continued to show improvement, and a good mix of beef and dairy sold very well. Top beef lines made $1.94-$2.03/kg, and medium, $1.85-$1.95/kg. Friesian prices were not far off the pace with higher yielding types earning $1.79-$1.90/kg, and medium, $1.65-$1.75/kg. Quality was very good in the cow pens.
It was standing room only in the rostrum as it packed out for the Calf Sale, with the biggest buying bench seen in over 20 years. Despite 2400 calves offered, some buyers still went home empty- handed as prices sold to record levels. Friesian bulls made up over half the total yarding, and 80-100kg Friesian sold for $400-$500, while heavy, well-marked lines returned $540-$670. Hereford-Friesian, 90-100kg, earned $535-$555. Crossbred lines were more mixed, with some lines harder to shift. The lighter end made $375-$400 for 85-100kg, and 110-140kg returned $435-$470. Heifers also sold well above last year’s levels with Hereford-Friesian, 75-85kg, making $400-$505, and 110-115kg, $545-$570.
