There was a slight decrease in lamb numbers, the quality was again good with big runs of trade and heavy lambs with plenty of condition. There were 6500 new season lambs and most were trade weights with a handful of heavy weights. Merinos were mixed in quality but sold to strong competition. There was a full field of buyers and the market trend was stronger.

New season lambs were $6 to $8 stronger with light trades selling from $170 to $197/head averaging 870c and the medium and heavy trade lambs $196 to $210/head or 850c/kg on average. Heavy lambs reached $247/head.

Old lambs lifted $6 to $12 with the trade weights 20 to 24kg selling from $172 to $200/head and averaged 825c to 840c/kg. Lambs 24 to 26kg mainly ranged from $207 to $226/head for the better covered 4 scores, heavy weights to 30kg sold from $214 to $255/head and averaged 840c/kg and extra heavy lambs topped at $300/head. Merino lambs were $10/head stronger on the 3 and 4 score lambs with the trade weights selling from $147 to $205 and heavy weights reached $230/head.

Mutton numbers eased and the quality was very mixed and included very light Merino ewes to extremely heavy crossbreds. Prices were firm on the medium weights and lifted $5 to $8 on the light and heavy weights. Medium weight ewes sold from $58 to $112/head. Heavy crossbreds reached $153 and Merino ewes $152/head. Most sold from 360c to 420c/kg cwt.