Wagga Sheep Market Report

All data provided by 

Report Date: 18th April 2024

Total Yarding: 56,000

Commentary

The market saw a decline in numbers, despite no sale following week due to the Anzac public holiday. Notably, both export and domestic buyers were missing from the sale, particularly those who typically acquire lambs for the Middle East market. There was a significant drop in the overall quality this week, with nearly half of the available stock classified as secondary types.

In the trade sale, major domestic buyers took centre stage, striving to secure all the better-presented trade lambs. Top-quality trade lambs commanded prices above 700c/kg cwt, while plainer types struggled to maintain their value. Lambs weighing between 20kg to 24kg fetched prices ranging from $115 to $168/head, with good lambs averaging 680c/kg cwt. Heavy trade lambs sold for $158 to $174/head. Store lambs sold from $60 to $115/head and lambs to feed on made from $115 to $135/head. Light lambs to the processors saw a marked decline of $20 to $40/head.

In the heavy export sale, there was a noticeable absence of large quantities of grain-assisted lambs compared to previous weeks. Lambs weighing between 27kg to 30kg sold for $168 to $195, averaging around 624 cents per kilogram on a carcass weight basis. Lambs over 30kg were in high demand, fetching prices ranging from $192 to $248.

This sale was compiled remotely and the sheep sale is yet to commence.