Much needed rain across the southern states during the past week contributed to increased lamb and sheep prices across almost all states and categories, as buyer demand for the reduced numbers remained very strong.

The national mutton indicator continued on its record path, jumping 23¢/kg on last week, to finish at 279¢/kg cwt, with Victoria’s indicator reaching 302¢/kg cwt.

Price indicators at the close of Thursday’s markets compared with last week's were:

• Trade lamb lifted 22¢ to 492¢/kg cwt.

• Heavy lamb: up by 19¢, settling at 492¢/kg cwt.

• Restocking lambs: 34¢/kg higher, at 452¢.

• Merino lamb: 16¢ dearer at 398¢/kg cwt.

• Light lamb: up 13¢ to 403¢.

• Mutton: up 23¢, to close at 279¢/kg cwt.

That’s almost 100c/kg above year-ago levels for the trade lamb indicator.

Boosting the lamb surge, MLA says the United States and Chinese markets continue to perform strongly, while exports of Australian lamb to the Middle East have jumped up by 49 per cent in the past year.

The United States and Chinese markets continue to perform strongly, with Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) reporting 3132t and 1380t to those destinations last month.

At Wagga, NSW, numbers yarded fell from last week’s larger yarding and quality was mixed. Trade lambs were firm to $3/head dearer with buyers paying premium prices for fresh well finished lambs as the majority averaged from 481¢ to 499¢/kg cwt.

Heavy lambs were $4 to $5/head dearer and there were fewer pens offered compared to the previous week's figures.

An exceptional pen topped at $163/head as the bulk averaged 480¢ to 522¢/kg cwt.

Mutton numbers increased and quality was mixed.

Heavy grades averaged 348¢/kg cwt while the medium grades of mutton sold to fluctuating prices selling $5 to $9/head dearer.