Wagga Sheep Market Report

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Report Date: 19th September 2024

Total Yarding: 50,000

Commentary

Lamb numbers experienced a significant decline following last week’s price correction. Quality varied across different weights and grades, especially among the older lamb classes. Buyer participation was inconsistent, with some refraining from purchases due to maintenance shutdowns at certain plants. The market displayed considerable volatility, with some buyers extremely selective.

This week, agents presented 16,550 new season lambs, some of which showed signs of dryness attributed to severe frosts in the regions. Young lambs weighing between 20-24kg sold for prices ranging from $144 to $196, averaging around 790-800c/kg cwt. Those the 24-26kg traded between $195 and $219/head. Heavy export young lambs faced a reduced pool of buyers, leading to a price decrease of $5/head. The majority sold for prices between $210 and $244, averaging 803c/kg. Store lambs with weight and frame fetched between $111 and $158, while lambs intended for feeding sold for $164 to $175.

The quality of old lambs was quite variable, resulting in numerous clean-up lots. Trade lambs sold for prices ranging from $135 to $186, while heavy export lambs weighing 27 kg and above were priced between $186 and $258.