As it was the nearly 1300 head sold on a lifting market and over 80% of those offered sold in excess of $90. A small yarding of male lambs had lighter types, at $74-$99, with one heavy line up to $113. Mixed sex dominated and all lines 30kg and more sold for $96-$112, with most other lines earning $88-$94.
Though store lambs are hot property the prime lamb market is more susceptible to limited processor space and the absence of a few regular buyers. Values held though, and most still sold for $110-$157, though there was a larger instance of lines making $100-$109.
The market bounced back up in the ewe pens with a $3-$5 lift across all types. Good and heavy lines made $155-$188, with medium and medium-good earning $117-$151. The balance traded at $70-$115.
With a public holiday following sale day there was very little in the way of quality cattle penned. A few lines of store steers were run through with the prime lines, which included two lines of Angus steers, 345-370kg, $2.73-$2.76/kg.
Space is very tight at the processors and prices were generally steady or discounted, with better yielding steers making $2.67-$2.78/kg, while medium types returned $2.55-$2.65/kg.
Heifer numbers were low and all bar two lines of store Hereford sold for $2.50-$2.59/kg. The Hereford lines returned $2.45-$2.46/kg. Bull numbers were even lower and one line of five Friesian, 512kg, managed $2.20/kg, while ex-service bulls varied from $1.40/kg to $1.80/kg.
Prices didn't improve in the cow pens, where buyers worked to yield and both dairy and beef traded at $1.41-$1.56/kg, with a few better beef cows reaching $1.80-$2.25/kg.
A handful of weaner's were penned though a number of lines were passed in. The biggest line of 12 Friesian bulls, 173kg, required very little outlay at $300.
