While these exceptional ewe prices are not entirely unheard of, it was the sheer number that reached that level that showed the strength of the market, as 217 sold for $200-$231, and a further 104 made $190-$199. A small line of 2-tooths also made it to $206. The strength continued through all the pens, with most making $130-$189.
The other section of interest was a bigger yarding of new season prime lambs. The bulk were medium to heavy types at $120-$159, with top lines reaching $160-$184, and a smaller end, $102-$119. The hogget market held for another week as the later cutting wool-bred lines featured and $120-$169 was common ground, though heavy types did sell to $170-$172.
New season lamb numbers are slower to come into the store pens, and two lines of mixed sex sold for $94-$97, with the balance of the section made up with Merino and Merino-cross hoggets that just met the market.
Most lines of hoggets and mixed age with lambs-at-foot sold for $90-$96 all counted, with two lines reaching $102-$106.
The numbers game continued in the rostrum, and while there looked to be good volumes, buyers still had to be very competitive to secure prime lines. All sections firmed bar the Friesian bulls, and the better steers traded at $2.98-$3.07/kg, with second cuts not far off the pace at $2.91-$2.97/kg.
The heavy heifers matched the steers, with Hereford, 575-630kg, making $2.85-$3.00/kg, while 468-558kg lifted to $2.86-$2.96/kg. Hereford-Friesian made similar values, while Angus, 452-535kg, were slightly off that pace at $2.76-$2.83/kg.
The Friesian bull market softened, and 568-725kg sold for $2.74-$2.88/kg, though heavy Hereford made $2.89-$2.92/kg. Hereford cows, 491-710kg, sold on a firm market at $2.23-$2.24/kg.
The boner section had the numbers but yet prices were very strong through the heifers, and continued to strengthen into the cow pens. Prices for the better Friesian heifers firmed to $2.71-$2.80/kg, while lighter lines, 425-433kg, made $2.50-$2.53/kg.
Very few Friesian cows sold below $2.00/kg, with 590-630kg making $2.11-$2.17/kg, and 500-585kg, $2.00-$2.06/kg. Kiwi-cross, 446-502kg, returned $1.88-$1.97/kg.
