Griffith Sheep Report
All data provided by
Report Date: 24th November 2023
Total Yarding: 9,350
Commentary
Sheep dominated the yarding and heavy mutton is what export buyers wanted in this sale. Prices surged to significantly higher levels on the back of some heavy rainfall across northern regions. Big Merino ewes in a long skin sold to $130 and there was a number of pens over $100/head. In comparison the lamb market was dull. There wasn’t a lot of weight or polish on the lambs however buyers didn’t really engage even on the better presented lots.
Best shorn lambs reached $156 and there was only half a dozen pens over $130/head in this sale. The better drafts of trade and heavier lambs were estimated at 420c to 480c/kg cwt, with sales above 500c rare. Most trade weighted lambs $80 to $115/head. Light lambs also lost momentum in a patchy line-up, most sales $40 to $65/head.
Export buyers stepped-up for heavy ewes, with several pens of Merinos in higher value skins making over $100 to a top of $130/head. Some big crossbred ewes reached $105. The good lines of mutton showing weight and finish were estimated as costing processors 250c to 300c/kg cwt. The best run of heavy Merino ewes weighing 30kg cwt plus averaged close to 300c/kg at an average of nearly $120/head. Price gains were not as significant on some of the smaller and mixed lots of sheep in plain condition, although they were still dearer than they have been at $25 to $50/head.
Market reporter: Jenny Kelly