NSW weekly sheep summary
10 February 2012
Shorn lambs dominate
Across all markets reported by MLA’s NLRS, lamb supply was close to last week’s larger numbers. Most markets had greater lamb yardings, including Forbes which gained 40%, however was counter acted by a reduction of 37% at Wagga late in the week. Forbes and Wagga though remained the largest markets and accounted for just over 60% of the states throughput. When compared the corresponding period last year, lamb supply was down by 4%.
There was a wide variation in the quality of lambs offered. This was highlighted by Tamworth were it was difficult to present lambs to the best advantage following substantial rain, while at Wagga there was a large number of good heavy weights. The other centres all have mixed quality runs suiting feeders and restockers or processors.
Young lambs were all but non-existent as shorn lambs accounted for 96% of the lambs offered. The young lambs purchased as stores are starting to come back onto the market, resulting in trade and heavy lambs dominating with just 23% of the yarding lightweights.
The regular buyers were present, however demand eased and subsequently prices were not able to maintain last week’s levels. Light lambs were $2 to $6/head cheaper to a range of orders. Trade weights were around $5 to $6 cheaper as the heavy weights lost closer to $10/head.
All markets recorded larger numbers of sheep with state throughput up 62% which resulted in the second highest total for the year being offered. The sheep yarding was up 36% on this week last year. Ewes lost $1 to $9 while the wethers lost up to $11/head.
Price slide
Light lambs to restockers made from $69 to $82 while some feeder purchases were closer to $94/head. Light trade weights to feed and restockers sold in a range from $94 to $107, as those to the trade lost $4 to sell closer to $99/head or 496¢/kg cwt. Only token numbers of medium and heavy trade lambs were secured by feeders or restockers, as those to the trade lost around 20¢ with most now returning 470¢ to 480¢/kg cwt. Heavy weights were dealt the largest lamb price falls of 20¢ to 40¢/kg cwt. Most returned from 440¢ to 460¢/kg cwt. The top of the heavy lambs made to $150, while a small run of extra heavy weights at Dubbo early in the week topped at $152/head which was around an estimated 410¢/kg cwt.
Light Merino ewes lost $6 to average $59 or 259¢, as the medium weights fell $8 to average $82 or closer to 300¢/kg cwt. Some heavy Merino ewes to restockers returned $119.50 as most of the heavy weights to slaughter ranged from $86 to $96/head. Wethers accounted for just under 10% of the mutton numbers, but this did little to stop them selling to a cheaper trend. Medium weight Merino wethers slid $11 to sell around $83/head or 297¢kg cwt.
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