Lambs: 7898. Change: down 4546. Sheep: 3789. Change: down 211. 

Lamb numbers declined to less than 8000 head following last week's cheaper results. There was a better selection of trade weight lambs on offer. One major domestic processor was absent, and other buyers didn't operate to capacity. The market varied, opening easy before improving. It meant there were sales that only matched last Monday, although the market showed a dearer trend of $3 to $8/head across most classes due to stronger results later in the auction. The best demand was for neat domestic lambs. Prices reached a top of $208 and $206/head for extra heavy lambs in a varied result for export weight stock. In carcase terms there was an estimated range of 560c to 615c/kg cwt across heavy lambs due to the fluctuating market. Most export lambs under 30kg cwt sold from $171 to $195/head. The main drafts of good trade weight lambs to domestic orders made from $148 to $168, with the medium types from $130 to $138/head. Plainer and secondary lambs varied from $72 to $130/head, depending on size and condition. On a carcase basis the good domestic lambs were trending over 600c, select pens reaching upwards of 630c/kg cwt at times. A couple of bigger lines of unshorn young lambs sold to restockers from $111 to $123/head, with few very shorn lines available to suit the paddock.

Sheep numbers also declined with 3789 head yarded. Not all processors attended in another fluctuating market. Some of the heaviest ewes were cheaper, while the main lines of trade and light mutton were dearer in carcase price terms compared to a week ago. One pen of extra heavy crossbred ewes sold to $161, with the next best price $140/head. Heavy Merino ewes in a skin sold to $145 and wethers to $133/head. The general run of sheep made from $70 to $115/head, at an estimated 380c to 410c/kg cwt for most.

CROSSBRED LAMBS

C & D Slatter (35) Boort  $208.00 

D & S Lloyd (72) Stuart Mill  $206.00 

PJ & BJ Rothacker (89) Bridgewater  $196.00 

DP & ZM Touhey (107) Gunbower  $195.00 

A,E & G Chambers (76) Marong  $193.00 

Bartlett Farms (40) Charlton  $189.00 

Kedleston Park P/L (95) Calivil  $188.00 

J & K Hewitt (59) Kerang  $185.00 

J & L Cartwright (24) Raywood $184.00 

Chirnside Hartley (249) Lockington  $183.00 

JD Cox (49) Charlton  $182.00 

SN & DA Collins (74) Bridgewater Nth  $181.00 

Rinaldi Farms (114) Womboota  $177.00 

A & C Branson (62) Colbinbbin  $176.00 

C & M Stone (75) Raywood  $176.00 

Sandy Ridge Farming (64) Kerang  $176.00 

EK & SJ Stone (38) Eastville  $173.00 

EJ & SE Vanston (50) Salisbury West  $173.00 

R Elder (41) Boort  $170.00 

Monmore P/L (116) Woodstock  $169.00 

Tom Eade (65) Lockington  $169.00 

DJ & ED Lees (245) Rochester  $168.00 

P Ogden (26) Echuca  $168.00 

FA & AC Coombs (72) Mangalore  $168.00 

Nullagong (86) Hay $167.00 

Chartwell Farms (33) Romsey  $167.00 

JK & A Tuohey ( 81) Myola  $166.00 

Nuttbyrne P/L (50) Knowsley  $165.20 

J Gallagher & D Fatt (88) Raywood  $164.50 

GK & N Harrop (68) Muskerry  $164.00 

O'Sullivan Farms (72) Elmore  $164.00 

J & J Wright (27) Charlton  $163.00 

DG & AM Connors (68) Lancefield  $162.10 

Moorview P/L (42) Rushworth  $162.00 

R Caldwell (70) Echuca  $161.00 

P Clarke (35) Newham  $161.00 

SJ McLeod (97) Nagambie  $160.00 

K & M Egan (57) Marong  $158.00 

M & L Broad (34) Bridgewater  $156.00 

A Bail (49) Echuca  $155.00 

I & S Cattanach (40) Campbells Forest  $153.00 

AJ Hooppell (44) Rochester  $153.00 

P Weeks (63) Elmore  $152.00 

K Butler (45) Kilmore East  $152.00 

Sascott (37) Bungaluke  $148.00 

Bail Kennaugh (50) Moama  $145.00 

Fliescher Farms (40) Mathoura  $140.00 

MERINO LAMBS 

Amalco ((66) Echuca  $142.00 

M & L Burge (157) Woosang  $137.00 

RG & EJ Tonkin & Sons (65) Wedderburn  $124.50 

LR & MR Tonkin (30) Wedderburn  $116.00 

MERINO WETHERS 

Fairfields @ Mysia (115) Mysia  $133.00 

CROSSBRED EWES

GF & CM Rathjen (20) Colbinabbin  $161.00 

WE & GW Twigg (64) Bears Lagoon  $140.00 

K Spencer (25) Avenel  $132.00 

G & D Turnbull (30) Wycheproof  $124.00 

Chartwell Farms (42) Romsey  $112.00 

M Hartley (76) Diggora  $111.00 

SW & RL Parsons (41) Bonnie Doon  $111.00 

R Mitchell (16) Lockington  $101.00 

MERINO EWES

Kedelston Park P/L (50) Calivil  $145.00 

MN Isaac (33) Powlett Plains  $122.00 

Bail Kennaugh (43) Moama  $118.00 

R Walker (41) Dunolly  $115.00 

G & J Richards (36) Nagambie  $115.00 

G & M Lourie (114) Raywood  $114.00 

Nullagong (3) Hay  $114.00 

A & E Holland (203) Borung  $112.00 

February 20

Cattle numbers were slightly better this week, with 215 coming forward and the quality of the animals presented was very good. The top vealer made 3.10 per kilogram, remaining fully firm. Heavy steers were in better supply this week, the top steer reaching $ 2.70 per kilogram. Medium to heavy steers were in better supply as well this week - the top steer reached $2.77 per kilogram also holding firm from the previous market. Cow numbers were similar this week, with prices remaining fully firm to the last market with the top reaching $2.05 per kilogram.

Steers Heavy over 500kg sold to $2.70

Steers Med/Heavy 420 – 490kgs sold to $2.77

Steer Veal Heavy over 400kgs sold to $2.99

Steer Veal medium 320 – 390kg sold to $3.11

Heifers Veal 420 to 490kgs sold to $2.99

Heifer Veal 320 – 390kgs sold to $2.99

Beef Cows sold to $2.05

STEERS

L Chaplin - Maldon $ 1,574.70 

BJ & SJ Griffiths - Kyneton $ 1,467.75 

C & R Bird - Dingee  $ 1,344.00 

C & C Hutton - Nestead $ 1,254.30 

Connally R/E - Heathcote $ 1,129.14 

VEALERS

Aurora Investments - Yarrawalla  $ 1,267.20 

BJ & SJ Griffiths - Kyneton  $ 1,193.49 

Mre J Thompson - Tooborac $ 1,175.68 

B Tout - Harcourt  $ 1,162.00 

DL & KR Whittacker - Sutton Grange $ 1,074.06 

COWS

E & J Mead - Wycheproof $ 1,810.00 

C & C Hutton - Newstead  $ 1,744.55 

B Tout - Harcourt $ 1,626.40 

J Grech - Toolleen  $ 1,439.61 

K & M Smirk - Heathcote $ 1,405.62 

J & S Truscott - Strathfieldsaye  $ 1,006.87 

HEIFERS

Est of T Curnow - Wedderburn  $ 1,354.64 

Connally R/E - Heathcote $ 1,282.32 

J Grech - Toolleen $ 1,263.60 

C & R Bird - Dingee  $ 1,231.23 

J & S Truscott - Strathfieldsaye $ 1,029.60 

BULLOCKS

Est of T Curnow - Wedderburn $ 2,275.00 

ORDER OF SALE FOR WEEK ENDING MARCH 3

McKean & McGregor 6 & 4

Ellis Nuttall  5 & 2

FP Nevins  2 & 6

Landmark  4 & 1

Elders 3 & 5

Rodwells  1 & 3