Hamilton Sheep & Lamb Market Report

Hamilton agents yarded 14,200 lambs an increase of 1,800 head on last week’s market and 3,500 sheep being 3,000 fewer than last week’s offering. It was another good quality yarding of shorn lambs with the top end showing good finish and shape although there were more lambs suitable for the paddock or for feeding on. All regular buyers were present though not all were fully active.

In a dearer market trade lambs averaged between 1180 and 1340c/kg cwt with most lambs to the trade selling $8 to $10 dearer in places topping at $432/head. Lambs suitable to feed on or return to the paddock sold from $209 to $272 equating to 1200 to 1500c/kg to be $15 to $25/head dearer and more in some instances. Light lambs weighing 12 to 16 kg made $209 to $240 while trade lambs 18 to 22 kg sold from $245 to $270/head. Lambs in the 22 to 26 kg range made $265 to $322 with heavier trade lambs selling from $330 to a top of $432 with Hoggets reaching $400/head.

Sheep also met very strong competition lifting $15 to $20/head with most medium and light trade sheep averaging between 860 and 950c/kg cwt. Heavy sheep were slightly less at 720 to 800c/kg cwt. Crossbred ewes sold to $333/head. Merino wethers with skin to $256 and Merino ewes with skin to $245/head. Terminal rams made up to $136 and Merino rams with skin reached $158/head.