At the completion of Thursday’s markets, the eastern states' lamb indicators began to recover from the recent firm to cheaper trend, with gains across most categories, namely:

• Restocker lambs lifted 7¢, to 329¢/kg cwt.

• Merino lambs climbed 6¢ from last week, to settle at 264¢.

• Llight lambs followed a similar trend, to end at 314¢/kg cwt.

• Trade lambs gained 15¢ from last week, to 354¢/kg cwt.

• Heavy lambs rose 18¢, to finish at 365¢/kg cwt.

The spring influx of new season lambs continues in Victoria, with lamb yardings climbing 6pc on last week and 1pc on last year.

Quality has been good, particularly at Ballarat. Lighter lambs have also been in demand to feed on failed crops.

Hamilton also experienced a 26pc increase in lamb availability, and from next week will be holding sales three times a week, with numbers 33pc up compared to the same time last year.

Ballarat lamb supplies rose 9pc, compared to last week and there were excellent quality new season lambs available. However, some consignments were dry and carrying seed contamination.

But lamb numbers declined 30pc at Bendigo, compared to the previous week, and 41pc, compared to the same time last year.

While national lamb supply at present is similar to that of the same time last year, turnoff is expected to fall below that of a year ago soon.

MLA says this reflects lower numbers on-farm and affordable options for producers to feed lambs through summer, an option which was not available last year.

MLA says there already has been strong growth in Australian lamb exports to Japan in October, with shipments up 31pc on last October.

The rise was largely assisted by an improved supply of lambs at that stage, when heavy lamb prices during the month were still approximately 35pc higher than at the same time last year, despite falling after the August peak price period.

Yet, overall improved supply enabled Japanese buyers to source frozen lamb – a popular item among foodservice and affordable retail outlets.

As a result, frozen shipments increased by 156pc on last October's, while chilled volumes fell by 3pc.

In the calendar year to October, lamb exports were up 5pc on the same period last year.