Both store and prime lamb numbers shot up as the market started to improve and vendors took the opportunity to start their offloading for winter. Buyers easily absorbed the extra number of store lambs, with prices lifting $3-$5 for a good quality yarding. Most made $70-$85, with a small tail end at $44-$69.
The prime lamb market also picked up momentum, with prices up $5 as processor buyers looked to fill space. Most earned $80-$117, with just a handful making $70-$79.
Ewes were hard to spot among the sea of lambs and interest in the 280 offered was limited. Prices were steady at $50-$80.
Prime cattle prices crept up as limited numbers made shopping harder work for buyers. Steers sold to $2.85/kg for Charolais-cross, with next-cut lines making $2.65-$2.74/kg. The best of the heifers earned $2.60-$2.70/kg, with dairy lines at $2.20-$2.22/kg. A big offering of cows was mainly cull dairy cows with the better types fetching $1.40-$1.45/kg, beef lines $1.65-$1.72/kg.
The store offering was sizeable after only calves were offered last week, but most lines were small and there was a mix of beef and dairy lines. R2 heifers made up more than half the section, with Angus selling on a strong market at $2.70-$2.77/kg for 357-393kg, Hereford, 365-410kg, $2.64-$2.70/kg. Jersey lines were also offered, with VIC selling to a very limited audience for just $220-$310, and empty Jersey faring worse at $160-$200. Friesians, however, made $2.30-$2.40/kg. Angus weaner steers sold well at $670-$710, with Friesian bulls, 111-160kg, $355-$480. R1 Angus heifers, 290kg, were well sought-after and returned $800.
