Generally, this can be attributed to the mixed quality offered, which is typical for this time of year, the National Livestock Reporting Service (NLRS) says.

Yardings continue to be dominated by old lambs, with young lambs receiving the strongest enquiry.

Also impacting prices was reduced competition, with some southern processors still closed for maintenance.

Sheep and lamb yardings fell in most centres this week - Victorian numbers down by 35pc, with the Ouyen sale, which runs fortnightly, accounting for 29pc of the previous week's yarding.

NSW yardings fell 7pc, with the majority of the fall recorded at Forbes and CLTX.

Dubbo, however, again recorded an increased yarding.

SA registered a 18pc fall in yardings, with SA LE accounting for most of the fall, while remaining stable in the south-east.

WA numbers, on the other hand, lifted by 3pc, with Katanning showing little change and Midland climbing.

As is the case in the eastern states, quality in WA was mixed, with an even split of crossbred and Merino lambs offered and the majority coming straight off pasture.

This has resulted in competition from processors becoming selective, with a solid floor being placed in the market by live exporters.

Nationally, Merino lambs lost 9¢/kg, to average 323¢/kg cwt, while restockers gained 6¢ to average 334¢.

In SA, however, Merino lambs jumped 44¢ to 350¢/kg cwt.

Trade lambs fell the least, by 5¢ to 450¢/kg.

When compared with last year's prices, trade lambs remain 45pc higher.

Heavy lambs lost 23¢, but were 44pc above prices of this time last year at 447¢/kg cwt.