Overall prices have been above expectations, with most generally up at least $10 on the previous year.
Castle Ridge Lamb sale consisted of 10,000 Poll Dorset-Merino lambs, with a complete clearance at $70-$134, and an average price in excess of $100. At the conclusion, a further 1800 lambs from Mount Arrowsmith Station were also sold, and returned $72-$120.
Last Thursday the Omarama and Tekapo sale yards played host to 18,500 mainly Merino lambs, though halfbred and blackface also featured. These sales were well attended and strong competition from Central Otago through to Marlborough saw a lift of $10-$15 on last year. At Omarama the Merino lambs were predominately wether, with the top lines making $82-$83, and good medium types, $74-$78. The lighter types made $63-$70, though very small lambs stayed at home. Halfbred wether lambs mainly traded at $68-$80, with a large portion in the $77-$80 range. Top blackface lambs made $87-$88, with forward store types earning $68-$70, and few trading under that level. Tekapo offered up the lion’s share of the lambs, at 12,000, with 90% Merino, and again mainly wethers. The sale held up from start to finish, with some buyers walking away empty-handed. Top lines made $80-$90, with one very good line of Merino wethers to $95, while medium made $70-$80, and light, $55-$65, with the lightest pen at $46. Three lines of Merino ewe lambs were also sold, with the top line at $90, second $76, and third, $58.
