Store lamb numbers shot up to 7000 as Central Otago lambs joined a larger offering from local areas. Quality was mainly very good and a timely increase in buyer numbers ensured the market was competitive, with prices firm. A month ago $70 was the price ceiling, but most lambs are now trading at $70-$80, with one line of ewe lambs making $90. Heavy ewe lambs sold for $72-$80, while the mixed-sex equivalent made $73-$80 to sell on a steady to firm market.
Run-with-the-ram breeding ewes also made an appearance and sold well, with the top lines returning $104-$127, and medium to good types $70-$95.
The prime lamb market is slowly but surely improving and a good-sized offering sold on a firm market at $80-$117. More than 1000 prime ewes were offered and prices remained steady. Light to medium sold for $30-$55, with good lines at $60-$79, and a small heavy end at $80-$104.
An increase in the number of cull dairy cows was a disadvantage for vendors, with prices coming off the previous weeks lifts. Most of the straight Friesian lines fetched $1.35-$1.46/kg at a 5-7cpk discount. Friesian-cross, 485-554kg, sold for $1.40-$1.50/kg, while 422-479kg made $1.25-$1.39/kg. Lighter lines dropped to $1.10-$1.20/kg. Beef cow prices were steady as Angus-cross, 426-648kg, traded at $1.55-$1.76/kg.
Other sections were very small by comparison and prices were softer. The better heifers sold for $2.55-$2.65/kg and off-types $2.34-$2.40/kg. Steers mainly sold for $2.60-$2.70/kg for both dairy and beef lines of quality, while high-yielding Hereford-cross, 525-556kg, made $2.72-$2.75/kg.
