Lambs: 17,440. Change: 3808. 

Sheep: 5013. Change: down 2770. 

Lamb supply lifted, drawn out by the high prices and continuing dry conditions. All the regular buyers attended, and while some processors didn't purchase as many as usual, it wasn't enough to stop another price increase of $10 to $25/head for good quality slaughter lambs. Prices lifted to new levels, both in dollar per head terms and carcase weight averages. Light weight and plain lambs under 18kg cwt were cheaper and the price gap between well finished lambs and secondary types lacking weight and fat cover was very noticeable.

The most obvious example of this trend was in the Merino lambs, with the best trade weight pens dearer while the plainest small Merinos were discounted. The first drafts of new season young lambs started to appear. The few fresh conditioned trade weight pens estimated at 22-25kg cwt sold from $212 to a top of $237, to average over 900c/kg cwt. Extra heavy export lambs were limited to a few pens which sold from $260 to a new saleyard record for Bendigo of $278/head to push carcase estimates over 800c/kg. Processor demand was strongest across the heavy and medium trade lamb categories. Domestic buyers did push into heavier weights and the main runs of crossbred lambs in the 26-30kg cwt range sold from $221 to $260/head.

The next grade down at 24-26kg cwt made from $220 to $235/head. In carcase terms these lambs were estimated as averaging 860c/kg, with the best pens out to 900c/kg cwt. Prices then lifted to average 880c/kg over the medium trade lambs, with the pick of the 20-22kg cwt lambs averaging nearly 920c/kg cwt. The lamb market followed a different pattern for light weight types which decreased by $15 to $20/head. Sheep numbers reduced to 5000 head, made of a mix of crossbred ewes following early weaning of lambs and some lines of Merinos. 

SUCKERS: RW & AL Baker (95) Dingee $ 237.00; M Jeans (68) Tylden $ 217.00; AC & CJ Ferguson (547) Womboota $ 215.00; G Broad (20) Durham Ox $ 215.00; G & C McKinnon (77) Pyramid Hill $ 212.00; Bernard Smith (34) Pyramid Hill $ 210.00; Jacki Brown (21) Colbinabbin $ 196.00; K Spencer (64) Swan Hill $ 183.00

CROSSBRED LAMBS: Bellinode (128) Elmore $ 276.00; AW Ogden & Sons (44) Wanalta $ 275.00; AL , B & R McIntosh (60) Colbinabbin $ 274.00; TB & B Cail (30) Kamarooka $ 271.00; Riverton Lodge (160) Barham $ 260.00; Bungle Boori (17) Seymour $ 255.00; BA Collins & BL Jones (212) Jarklin $ 250.00; P & D Sexton (61) Terrappee $ 250.00; R & N Broom P/L (38) Bridgewater $ 249.00; KJ & VE Micheel (39) Elmore $ 242.00; L & B O'Mara (24) Myers Flat $ 240.00; A & M Gordon (32) Dunluce $ 240.00; JM & RM Ryan (21) Wanalta $ 238.00; EK & SJ Stone (12) Eastville $ 235.00; NW & E Davis (26) Sutton Grange $ 235.00; B McInness & CT & LC Elliott (175) Nandaly $ 234.00; PJ & BJ Rothacker (45) Bridgewater $ 233.00; WH Bacon (27) Echuca West $ 230.00; Traverston Farms (28) St Arnaud East $ 230.00; Carrumdale (61) Baringhup $ 230.00; R & S White (73) Wycheproof $ 228.00; Sudholz Farm (42) Taminick $ 227.00; Forres P/L (260) Rochester $ 226.00; HE Hunt & Co (39) Euroa $ 226.00; B & J Poole P/L (54) Runnymede $ 226.00; TW McCormick & Sons (23) Elmore $ 224.00; Nutbyrne (56) Knowsley $ 222.00; Tyrell Park (204) Nandaly $ 221.00; AR Pryor (30) Kerang $ 220.00; KF Cail (43) Raywood $ 220.00; G & R Dickinson (40) Heathcote $ 216.00; C Graham Family (49) Arnold $ 212.00; ED Carr (70) Emu Creek $ 210.00; L Hercus & K Punton (73) Eastville $ 210.00; Hacon Past (48) Tongala $ 210.00; N & N Cocking (60) Loddon Vale $ 210.00; RE & SL Pederson (39 $ 209.00; WJ & PJ Sullivan (23) Newstead $ 208.00; LT Lowndes (25) Emu Creek $ 202.00; R & C Stephenson (20) Fentons Creek $ 199.00; Lake Marmal (67) Lake Marmal $ 199.00; D & G Phillips (23) Tallygaroopna $ 190.00; G Tilling (35) St Arnaud $ 190.00; Geoffjoy Enterprises P/L (27) Kerang $ 188.60; L & N McNAulty (22) Logan $ 180.00  

MERINO LAMBS: Pinegrove Farming (112) Pinegrove $ 197.00; D & S Erwin (120) Emu $ 190.00; G & L McGurk (69) Charlton $ 186.50; Bathurst Downs (44) Serpentine $ 178.00; GJ & ML Lourie (20) Auchmore $ 155.00; Geddes Past (200) Holbrook $ 146.00; Kalamunda (118) Deniliquin $ 146.00; Craig Newnham (48) Nagambie $ 128.00; JJ & SL O'Connor (99) Ruffy $ 128.00 

TWO TOOTH: B & J Poole P/L (20) Runnymede  $ 155.00 

MERINO WETHERS: DN Pitson (42) Bagshot $ 169.00; Whinfield Farms (95) Macorna $ 143.60; L Soulsby (74) Rheola $ 129.50  

CROSSBRED EWES: Jacki Brown (20) Colbinabbin $ 180.00; AA Jensen & Son (41) Raywood $ 170.00; Kerr Farm P/L (53) Kamarooka $ 169.00; JM & RM Ryan (16) Wanalta $ 164.00; HE Hunt & Co (46) Euroa $ 156.00; zT Dobson (26) Echuca $ 156.00; B Burrke (22)) Nathalia $ 156.00; Strathfillan Past (13) Stuart Mill $ 152.00; R & N Comer P/L (36) Drummartin $ 146.00; Campaspie Glen (13) Glenburn $ 145.00; N & S Holland (97) Picola $ 137.00  

MERINO EWES: A & M Gordon (129) Dunluce $ 170.00; Nuttbyrne P/L (45) Knowsley $ 164.00; A Gawne (165) Boort $ 160.00; GC & LM Newton (42) Avenel $ 158.00; EW & FM Pascoe (67) Raywood $ 151.00; T & J Demeo (79) Raywood $ 145.00; S Wright (49) St Arnaud $ 143.00; McKAy Farms (77) Drummartin $ 143.00; Hastings Ag (215) Traynors Lagoon $ 142.00; L & G Marke (42) Seymour $ 139.00; AD,SE & DJ Collins (129) Bridgewater $ 132.00 

July 24.

Numbers were down slightly again this week with 137 coming forward. The quality of the cattle presented for sale was very good. Heavy steers were in good supply and sold to a top of $3.04 per kilo. Medium to heavy steers were also in good supply this week and sold to a top of $3.06 per kilo, both remaining firm to slightly dearer on the previous market. A good sized run of vealers came through the ring and sold well to a top price of $3.41 per kilo, 10 cents dearer than last week. A good run of cows sold to a top of $2.32, 4 cents dearer than last week.

Heavy Steers over 500kg sold to $3.04

Medium to Heavy Steers 450- 500kg sold to 3.06

Steer Veal Heavy over 400kg sold to $3.38

Steer Veal medium 320-390kg sold to $3.41

Heifers Veal 420 to 490kg sold to $3.36

Heifer Veal 320-390kg sold to $3.38

Beef Cows-$2.32

STEERS

JGC P/L - Rochester $ 1,579.20

J Bickley - Goornong $ 1,550.40

P Smith - Tandarra $ 1,548.75

R Allott - Axe Creek $ 1,499.10

Lombardy Ent P/l - Elomre $ 1,453.50

Philora - Kamarooka $ 1,373.52

SW Ellis - Dingee $ 1,338.75

SJ Hocking - Drummartin $ 1,302.00

VEALERS

Lombardy Ent P/L - Elmore $ 1,406.20

GD & LJ Richards - Calivil $ 1,374.60

Broadacre Farms - Piavella $ 1,224.72

COWS

SJ McDonald - Sutton Grange $ 1,624.00

P & V Gaudion - Lockwood $ 1,506.50

P Connally - Baynton $ 1,321.60

HEIFERS

J Coghlan - Bridgewater $ 1,714.50

JGC P/L - Rochester $ 1,553.25 

For week ending August 4: 

McKean & McGregor 5 & 2

Ellis Nuttall 1 & 3

FP Nevins 3 & 5

Landmark 2 & 6

Elders 4 & 1

Rodwells 6 & 4