Stortford Lodge prime sale 11.06

Just shy of 100 cattle were on offer and Angus steers, 575-628kg, that had been in overnight maintained levels of $2.96-$3.02/kg, trading just fractionally below 2017 levels. Angus heifers and cows were also solid, with heifers, 521-569kg, trading at $2.70-$2.72/kg, and cows, 525-467kg, $1.91-$2.01/kg.
With Queen’s Birthday the previous week there was almost a double sale for the sheep.
Ewe throughput continues to increase with scanning underway and it likely contributed to a slight ease for most, despite a large number of buyers present. Two two-tooth wethers took top honors for the day earning $216, while two-tooth ewes were steady at $125-$129.50.
Very heavy mixed age ewes eased by $10 to $157.50-$172, and heavy lines were back $3 to $141-$154, good to very good types eased marginally to $125-$139. Medium & medium-good lines also eased $3 to $110-$121.50 and the lighter end softened $5-$10 at $83-$108.50. Very heavy mixed age wethers were hot property, earning $185.50.
Lamb numbers increased to the highest levels seen since September 2017, and the market felt an ease. This could be attributed to a number of lines that arguably would have been more suited to a Wednesday store sale. Very heavy cryptorchid and ram lambs returned $156-$196. Top males were steady at $212, while very heavy types softened by $4 to $194.50-$200, as did heavy lines at $156-$190. Good types were steady on recent levels at $129-$141.
Mixed-sex lines eased by $5-$30 for some as heavy lambs traded at $144-$176, and light-medium to medium lines, $109-$132.50.
Ewe lamb numbers swelled but this didn’t affect their returns with most lines steady. Top ewe lambs softened by $20, while very heavy lines were steady at $168-$182. Heavy ewe lambs strengthened by $3 to $159-$170, while very good types managed $139-$152, and medium-good to good lines traded at $119-$136.50