Very limited processor space meant prime markets were a hard ask, and lambs eased to $100-$148.50, with a small top end achieving $150-$163.
Prime ewe numbers pushed to new heights while prices lost more ground. Heavy ewes made $100-$149, medium, $70-$99, and light, $40-$69.
Store lamb prices fell below last year’s level as local demand was very limited. Medium to good lines came back to $50-$86, though values were very similar for the lighter end.
A consignment of medium Romney mixed age ewes traded at $121-$133, and Corriedale, $110-$114.
High cattle throughput continued to put pressure on the market, which is declining as a result. All sections had significant tallies with steer’s rivaling the cows, and heifers not far behind. Jersey bulls also came forward in decent volume.
Good Angus steers, 484-506kg, made a premium at $2.95/kg, while the Hereford-Friesian dominant section mainly traded at $2.70-$2.80/kg for the better types, with one line of seven, 694kg, making $2.90/kg. Second cuts earned $2.60-$2.65/kg.
Heifers took a significant dive across the board, with Hereford-Friesian losing 20-25c/kg as 478-573kg mostly traded at $2.55-$2.66/kg.
The bull market lost the least amount of ground, with Friesian, 547-565kg, easing 5c/kg to $2.57-$2.61/kg, and Jersey, 455-511kg, $2.48-$2.57/kg. Hereford-Friesian cows sold on a reasonably solid market as 540-635kg returned $1.95-$2.02/kg.
Heavy boner Friesian cows came back 8-12c/kg to trade at $1.80-$1.88/kg, but the medium types managed to hold at similar levels. As the weight dropped further the market continued its downward trend down to $1.60-$1.74/kg. The news was no better for Friesian heifer’s, with 10-15c/kg taken off all weight ranges.
