Store lamb numbers were similar to the previous week at 3700, but prices eased, with $60-$70 more common. Light-medium mixed sex eased, and made $40-$70, with a small top end selling to $71-$83. Male lambs mainly traded at $67-$78, while a small ewe lamb offering returned $66-$70, with light ewe lambs the best sellers on the day.
Heavy prime lambs eased for a yarding of 1200, and no lambs sold over $119, with most trading at $80-$119. Mutton schedules are improving, and over 1700 ewes sold on a firm market, with heavy types making $100-$144, medium-good, $80-$99, and light-medium, $50-$79.
The cattle pens were busy, with a combined sale calendared, and also a lift in numbers in the prime pens. Of the 203 prime cattle offered, 103 were steers, of which most were largely beef-Friesian. Buyers were not deterred, and the best of the steers made $2.80-$2.90/kg, with the next cut earning $2.76-$2.79/kg. The top heifers traded at $2.75-$2.85/kg, though local trade types eased to $2.60-$2.74/kg as a lesser quality yarding was offered. Bull and cow numbers were low, but beef cows, 565-705kg, returned $2.05-$2.11/kg.
The store section was also top heavy with steers, and like the prime, Hereford-Friesian dominated. Prices eased slightly for R2, with 343-415kg, returning $2.93-$3.05/kg, though a premium was paid for Angus, 372-412kg, at $3.30-$3.40/kg. R2 Hereford-Friesian heifers, 321-367kg, traded at $2.80-$2.94/kg, while weaner steers, 133-181kg, sold over a tight range at $460-$610. Angus cows were also a rare treat, and at 468-592kg, fetched $1280-$1380.
