Lambs continue to be the shining light in the sheep pens with prices reaching seasonal highs, though it is hard to fault a ewe market that sells at consistently strong levels.
As the season marches on more specially advertised consignments of store lambs are coming forward, and today's feature was around 1100 half-bred lambs from Lilybank Station, Lake Tekapo. These were keenly contested and four lines of ewe lambs sold two ways for $113-$131, while two very good lines of wethers made $123-$134. The buying bench for the mixed sex lines was wider spread and the top cuts made $115-$128, and second, $99-$110. Other good mixed sex lines made $117-$131, while prices lifted for medium-good types at $98-$119. Lighter lines sold for $75-$106, with most 29kg and under selling over $4.00/kg live weight.
The prime lamb section was the smallest but what it lacked in numbers it made up for in the size of the prices. The return of a buyer to the market resulted in a lift by around $10 per head, with most trading at $120-$168.
Prime ewe numbers swelled to just over 2000 head, as three big consignments of finer wool types helped boost volume. A much larger number of ewes sold in excess of $200, with prices very strong through the lighter pens at $100-$169. Very light lines made $70-$93.
Small numbers of scanned-in-lamb ewes are starting to trickle in – evidence that this is underway on the early country. This could prove to be a profitable market this year given the high lamb prices, and those offered certainly reflected that as they sold for $178-$181.
Prime cattle prices continued to be under pressure due to very limited space, while all bar the lighter end of the boner cows firmed for the second week running.
Prime cattle numbers are relatively low but there are still too many for what is required, with processors still full or working through backlogs. This meant soft markets and steers sold to a top of $2.59/kg for 607kg Angus, while Hereford-Friesian, 444-665kg, made $2.51-$2.57/kg. Lighter Angus heifers, 460-568kg, fetched $2.55-$2.67/kg, and good yielding Hereford-Friesian, $2.54-$2.58/kg. Lesser lines made just $2.34/kg.
Prime cows were not immune either and while Angus, 625-639kg, managed $1.83/kg, others eased to $1.70-$1.80/kg.
A good bench of buyers again came forward for boners, with the firm market the previous week still leaving some room in budgets for the top and second cuts. Nearly all Friesian and Friesian-cross lines traded at $1.20-$1.53/kg, with top lines earning $1.42-$1.53/kg, second cuts $1.30-$1.40/kg, while lighter lines eased to $1.20-$1.33/kg. Limited numbers of Jersey also fitted into the lower end of that price range.
