Sheep numbers were low across the board, which meant buyers had to be more competitive, and as a result prices firmed. Good store lambs made $100-$130, while medium and light lines lifted $5-$10 to finish at $90-$95, and $70-$80. Ewes with lambs-at-foot made $70-$83 all counted.
Prices firmed for all types of prime lambs, as heavy lines reached $155-$165, medium $135-$150, and lighter, $115-$125. While heavy ewes firmed to $110-$130, medium and light lines maintained the previous week’s levels at $90-$110 and $65-$85. Very light ewes sold for $40-$55, and rams, $50-$80.
Heifers and cows made up the bulk of the prime and boner section, with most selling on a good market. A small offering of steers, 450kg, lacked quality and made $2.60/kg, with beef heifer prices also softening to $2.50-$2.70/kg. Dairy heifers showed improvement, and 400-450kg sold for $2.30-$2.50/kg, with 350-370kg earning $1.70-$2.00/kg. The strength continued into the cow pens, where 500kg plus firmed to $2.00-$2.08/kg, and medium, 450kg, $1.80-$1.90/kg. Lighter lines, 400kg, remained steady at $1.70-$1.80/kg.
Store cattle numbers flowed this week, with the yarding mostly consisting of beef-cross. Quality was down in the 2-year pens, where 360-400kg fetched $900-$1100, with 365kg heifers at similar levels. The per head prices did not change much in the 1-year section, though the weights did, with 246kg steers making $910, and heifers, 254-283kg, $830-$995. Hereford-cross bulls, 295kg, sold for $980, and Angus-cross, 212kg, $775.
Feeder calf prices were solid for a mainly bull line up. Good Friesian bulls made $150-$270, medium $80-$100, and small, $40-$70. Hereford bulls sold to $180-$200, and medium, $110-$150. Angus-cross returned $110-$200, and Charolais-cross, $350.
