Just 20 prime cattle were offered last Monday. Fifteen of those were 615kg in-calf Angus & Angus-Hereford cows and they sold at $2.50/kg.
Plenty of support was on the rails in the sheep section and with throughput declining there was more pressure put on buyers. The lamb market was exceptionally strong with lifts shown right across the board.
More of the lambs were heavy types and at least $171 was needed to enter the market. Top price of $230 was shared between a line of very heavy ram lambs and two very heavy mixed sex. Other very heavy male and ram lines strengthened to $206.50-$229, as did heavy lines earning $180-$211.
Ewe lambs were equally as strong with the seven top lambs returning $223.50. Other very heavy lines lifted to $201-$212, and heavy, $192.50-$209. Good types were solid at $185-$191.
The ewe market was a game of two halves, with top types lifting while very good to lighter ewes were steady to easing. Very heavy types strengthened to $170-$187, and heavy $150-$160. Very good lines were steady at $149-$149.50, while medium and good types softened to $122-$127. The lighter end also eased to $88-$115.
The cattle yarded last Wednesday was equal to just a quarter of the previous sale, and there was plenty of demand. Calculators were out early in the piece and R2 lines were scrutinised closely, 361kg Angus and 344kg Angus-cross heifers were solid returning $3.02/kg and $2.98kg respectively.
The majority of the remaining yarding were yearling cattle and the market was solid. Nineteen Simmental-cross heifers, 265kg, fetched $930, with Angus, 217-315kg, earning $760-$860.
A consignment of specially advertised R1 Friesian bulls were drafted into two lines and were very well received, with the first 22 head, 237kg, managing $770, and their lighter brothers, 225kg, right on their tails at $760.
Out in the sheep section the lamb market was very strong, as were ewes with lambs-at-foot. However scanned-in-lamb ewes were the big talking point of last week’s sale. Ewes with scanning percentages of 175-189% earned $231-$240, and lines scanned at 125% also managed strong returns at $189.
Dry ewes made solid returns and 2-4 tooth lines traded at $133, and mixed age $154.50-$160.
Ewes with lambs-at-foot improved for some on last week’s record breaking levels. A line of 43 medium-good Romney ewes with 52 lambs fetched $126.50 all counted, while remaining medium to medium good types with multiples traded at $115-$125. The market softened slightly for light-medium types with single lambs, they managed $98-$114.
Lamb throughput remains high and vendors could certainly not be disappointed with returns. Cryptorchid lambs were solid to lifting for the majority with good types managing $167.80 and heavy $189. Males were firm at the heavier and lighter ends, earning $173.50-$178.50, and $134.50-$154 respectively. However good male lines eased to $149.50-$167.
Good to heavy ram lambs were steady at $161, while mixed sex lines eased for most with medium-good to good trading at $147.50-$156, and light-medium to medium $120-$140.
Ewe lambs were the big movers this week with all lines strengthening. Top types returned $187, while the majority were good types and traded at $152.65-$171.50. Light-medium to medium lines also lifted to $120-$151.
