A consignment of 250 Romney ewes came in with 440 tailed lambs-at-foot. Demand was strong and the three lines sold for $116-$117 all counted. The balance of the section were hoggets with lambs which earned $88-$95 all counted.
Another special entry of around 780 shorn halfbred ewe hoggets were purchased for breeding at $124-$182, while their brothers made $120.
300 spring lambs were spread through the prime and store pens, with the latter trading at $109-$112, and the prime types, $114-$119.
Prime hogget volume was high again and prices steady. A small line reached $191, with other heavy types returning $180-$184. The greater part were medium to good types that earned $150-$179, while the balance sold for $130-$149.
An extra buyer in the ewe pens lifted prices. Very heavy ewes fetched $190-$209, and just a few lesser types sold below $130.
Recent rain helped bring more confidence to the store cattle market. Yearling Hereford-Friesian steers, 272-301kg, returned $2.94-$3.01/kg, while a lesser line of 294kg earned $2.76/kg.
Just on half the Hereford-Friesian heifers came from one property and at 190-239kg most sold for $2.63-$2.64/kg, while two lesser lines dropped to $2.32-$2.49/kg. A line of nine heifers and one steer, 304kg, returned $2.63/kg.
Prices for bulls were still well off the pace but did improve slightly. Friesian, 298-304kg, firmed to $2.35-$2.40/kg, with all lines trading at $700-$730.
Limited space had a bearing on the prime market, with a steady to softer tone the result. Beef-Friesian steers, 510-718kg, sold to $2.77-$2.88, and second cuts, $2.71-$2.80/kg. Heifer prices came back and beef and beef-cross, 515-560kg, returned $2.61-$2.67/kg. Dairy types were very consistent at $2.25-$2.33/kg.
The cow pens featured Friesian and Friesian-cross with most in good condition, though for 473-625kg prices dropped 15c/kg to $1.60-$1.68/kg.
