Vendors hoping to take advantage of improvements in store lamb prices pushed numbers up to 5300, but the market held and in some cases improved. Most lambs were mixed-sex, and light to medium types firmed to $68-$79, with better mediums up to $75-$89. Heavy types also sold on a steady to firm market with most making $82-$96. Single-sex lines were low in number. Males earned $75-$96, ewes $80-$104. A small offering of Merino mixed-sex fetched $67-$85.
Prime lamb numbers also climbed to 2000, but demand met the market and prices were firm. Most sold for $90-$119, with a top cut at $120-$125. There was some life in the ewe pens and prices improved slightly on recent weeks. Light to medium ewes returned $51-$69, better types $70-$89, and a very top at $94-$103.
Dairy cows continued to take up most of the auctioneer’s time, and good demand kept prices steady to firm. Friesian and Friesian-cross lines sold over very tight ranges, with most at $1.47-$1.59/kg, while lesser types and Jersey lines made $1.25-$1.42/kg. Beef cows were limited in number. Top lines earned $1.88-$1.94/kg, though Angus, 534-536kg, sold for $1.74-$1.79/kg.
Other sections paled in comparison to the 580 cows offered, but the general theme was a steady market throughout. Hereford and Hereford-cross featured in all sections and made top dollar, with Hereford steers making $2.65-$2.74/kg. The same breeds made premiums in the heifer pens, with Hereford and Hereford-cross earning $2.61-$2.69/kg, though a small offering of higher-yielding exotic sold to $2.73-$2.78/kg.
Hereford bulls, 606-685kg, fetched $2.57-$2.67/kg, Friesian, 605kg, $2.40/kg.
