Lamb markets across Australia have remained fairly stable this week, with most price changes ranging only $1 to $2/head either side of last week's, according to Friday's MLA markets news.
Across all sales, new season light restocking lambs showed no change in price, reaching $64/head and averaging $52/head.
Light trade lambs slipped $3/head, to average $67/head or 322¢/kg cwt.
Trade weights were slightly dearer, most selling from $60 to $90/head, to average 355¢ to be 4¢/kg cwt dearer.
Heavy lambs to 24kg averaged $93/head or 349¢/kg cwt, 14¢/kg cheaper.
But those over 24kg recorded substantial improvements as more lambs grow into these weights, the MLA says.
Prices for these averaged around $10 dearer, at $107/head and 377¢, a rise of 41¢kg cwt.
Old lambs showed little change with trade weights making from $56 to $92/head or around 342¢/kg cwt.
Light and trade weight Merinos eased in quality at most centres and prices reflected this, with light weights around 15¢ cheaper, averaging 230¢, while trades lost 25¢ - and more for some categories - to average around 250¢/kg cwt.
Fewer lambs were yarded at most centres and quality also fell away, too, with dry conditioned and lightweight lambs more prevalent.
A number of centres reported increased seed contamination or remedial shearing of young lambs.
For instance, at Dubbo, NSW, there were fewer fresh new-season lambs and most of the Merinos lacked finish and the market tended cheaper for trade and light lambs.
An increase in well-conditioned shorn lambs at Wagga, NSW, saw these these sell $3 to $5/head dearer but the unshorn trade new season lambs struggled to hold firm.
The heavy shorn lambs lifted $5 to $8/head for limited supplies and northern NSW restocking orders pushed suitable light lambs up $2 to $3/head also.
Sheep quality was variable at most centres with consignments ranging from very light 1 score Merinos to over-conditioned extra heavy crossbred.
The better covered Medium and heavy Merino ewes again met the best demand in a generally slightly cheaper market.
Mutton prices varied either side of firm but most categories tended cheaper.
Light 2 score merinos averaged $31/head or 143¢/kg while medium and heavy ewes were 7¢/kg cheaper at 166¢ to 170¢/kg cwt.
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