The top ewes still sold to $180-$236 and few lines made under $100, but through the middle prices eased as most traded at $110-$168.
New season lamb numbers are catching up to the hoggets, and 560 primes sold on a firm market with top lines making $141-$178, and the remainder, $115-$139.
A very small store lamb section kicked off the season, and two light blackface lines sold for $85.50-$102.50 while a medium line made $103. Merino and Merino-cross hoggets were variable, trading at $70-$175.
The other big feature was the hoggets with lambs-at-foot, with a total of 900 all counted. Most lines were singles and all sold for $80-$93 all counted.
Vendors had a win in the rostrum as demand outstripped supply. The steer section grew by nearly 50 head, helped by an entry 52 Friesian steers. With good cover these sold to keen interest, and 538-755kg fetched $2.85-$2.95/kg. High yielding traditional and exotic lines finished at $3.05-$3.09/kg, while Hereford-Friesian, 510-595kg, returned $2.90-$3.02/kg.
Few lines of beef heifers sold below $2.90/kg as all high yielding types easily made $2.90-$2.94/kg, with a line of three Charolais, 640kg, and achieving $2.99/kg.
Angus bulls, 600-720kg, sold to $3.05-$3.09/kg, while Jersey, 446-470kg, earned $2.68-$2.73/kg.
The cow market was a highlight, and prime cows sold as high as $2.40-$2.42/kg for good beef types, and most lines at least made $2.17/kg. Friesian cows, 500-600kg, lifted to $2.13/kg, with most pens trading at $2.07-$2.22/kg. Lines 400-450kg fetched $1.87-$2.01/kg, while Kiwi-cross, 480-543kg, also made good returns at $2.05-$2.12/kg.
