A total of 37,000 lambs and 10,000 sheep went under the hammer and the market was quoted as being $5 cheaper for heavy and extra heavy categories. Trade lambs were up to $4 dearer. 

Vendor Gordon Rodham of “Cranbrook”, Uranquinty topped market a couple of weeks ago with some second-cross Poll Dorset lambs.

Another draft of his extra-heavy lambs sold well at Wagga this week to earn $211.

The bigger yarding at Wagga was attributed to the fact that many lots couldn’t make it to market last week because of the widespread wet weather.

Meat and Livestock Australia market reporter Leann Dax said it was a good to mixed offering for a winter yarding.

“Prices for trade lambs were on par to the previous sale, while heavy lambs lost some traction,” she said.

Ms Dax said increased supplies of secondary lambs entered the market.  

It was the well-finished grain fed trade lambs which attracted strong bidding and Ms Dax said the grass finished pens, at times, struggled to appeal to all buyers.

Some of these lambs were described as lacking fat cover. 

Generally trade lambs averaged 625c/kg cwt.

Merino trade lambs sold to solid demand regardless of skin length making from $113 to $158/head.

“A southern export processors had the greatest influence over the lighter weight categories buying the bulk of the offering, on the prediction of heavy rain forecast,” she said. 

Light weight lambs to the processors tracked dearer selling at $85 to $118/head.

Ms Dax said restockers were cautious, with only limited numbers returning to the paddock and prices ranged from $67 to $120. 

Heavy lambs were keenly sought by several domestic processors, which averaged 613c/kg cwt. Extra heavy lambs for the first time this season lacked weight with only limited supplies over 30kg cwt.

The better finished heavy pens sold at $180 to $211 head to average 605c/kg cwt.