Ewes with lambs at foot still seem good shopping to this observer, this week selling between $69 and $98. Over 1,000 spring lambs were offered and these eased back from last week's high levels although the sale prices were very acceptable. 113 mixed sex Poll Dorset cross lambs sold for $118 and the smallest of the spring lambs sold for $67.50.
A handful of hoggets, mostly woolly ewe hoggets, ended the sale as a clean-up.
Ewes & LAF, $69-$98; Spring lambs, $67.50-$118; Hoggets, $75-$120.
The better steers generated some interest and sale prices lifted by around 10c/kg for 2-yer and 3-year steers. Three-year Charolais steers sold for $1950, $3.32/kg, which was nearly matched by the top 15 2-year Angus steers that made $1930, $3.25/kg, and top Angus yearlings made up to $1335, $3.61/kg. A warm day made some difference to the market.
Nearly 300 yearling bulls offered something for everybody with purebred Simmentals at $1510, light Jerseys at $600 and indicator yearling Friesians selling up to $1130, $3.01/kg, which is consistent with recent weeks. Autumn-born bulls sold to firming demand although there must be plenty around.
At least there were some older heifers offered this week which sold to firm demand.
The yearling heifer section was "all over the place" with regard to pricing and paid little heed to breeding at times.
Steers; 3-year, 532-588kg, $1700-$1950, $3.20-$3.32/kg; 2-year, 375-593kg, $1220-$1930, $2.76-$3.47/kg; 1-year, 273-370kg, $1020-$1335, $2.77-$4.00/kg; Bulls; 1-year, 131-376kg, $460-$1510, $1.98-$4.66/kg; Heifers; 2-year, 341-490kg, $955-$1380, $2.59-$3.02/kg; 1-year, 177-346kg, $440-$1070, $1.88-$3.59/kg.
