Griffith Sheep Sale Report

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Report Date: 25th April 2024

Total Yarding: 9,900

Commentary

Modest lift in lamb numbers to 7600 head, up 1700 on a week ago. There was the usual selection of hard fed heavy and extra heavy crossbred lambs, followed by more Dorpers in the tradeweight categories, and finishing on a mixed offering of light lambs. Prices for the lead lambs were marginally dearer than last week, with buyers starting off slow before showing more enthusiasm on the better presented lines later in the auction. Mutton and light lambs were dearer, noting these categories had recorded significant price drops the previous Friday.

The lead pens of fed crossbred lambs over 30kg cwt from $210 to a top of $241.60 to average $228/head. Extra heavy Dorper lambs sold to $200. There was more buying activity on some of the heavy 26-30kg cwt lambs which sold from $174 to $213.50/head. The ballpark costs to processors for the lead run of lambs was 670c to 695c/kg cwt. In the trade lamb the market performed around quality, the heavy trades from $160 to $175/head and the general run of medium and lighter trades $124 to $156/head. Neat trade lambs estimated at 620c to 660c/kg for most, with rates below this for plainer types and odd penlots. There was some handy Merino lambs in the yarding which showed carcass finish and sold to $167.20. Lighter and smaller Merinos $80 to $130/head.

Just 2300 sheep yarded and there wasn’t the big lines of heavy mutton often seen at Griffith. Prices did improve from last week’s cheaper trend, heavy Merino ewes in wool to $115 and crossbred ewes to $104. Most sheep $60 to $90/head at category averages of 250c to 290c/kg cwt.

Market reporter: Jenny Kelly