Numbers lifted to 18,000 after the centre skipped last Monday's sale due to the public holiday. The season is showing up on lamb quality through inconsistency, with a lot of variance in fat cover and weight even within pen lots. Demand from processors was subdued, with a number of abattoirs reportedly booked up with direct sales. Bidding did fluctuate across the sale, with the majority of the lambs making from $8 to $20/head cheaper compared to the results of a fortnight ago. Buyer competition was particularly quiet on heavy export lambs, with some companies not operating at all. Discounting was also evident for secondary and plainer bred lambs of all weights and grades, with unshorn, long wool types among the cheapest in the market. The heaviest export lambs, weighing 30-36kg cwt, varied from $186 to $228/head to return estimated carcass averages from 600c to 615c/kg cwt. The best runs of heavy trade weight lambs, weighing 24-26kg cwt, sold from $159 to $170 to average around $163/head. The best domestic shorn lambs, weighing 22-24kg, made from $150 to $164/head. On a carcase basis, prices estimated to be from 630c to 660c/kg cwt covered majority of these sales. Plainer trade weight lambs, lacking fat cover and visual appeal, were discounted below 600c/kg cwt. The bulk of the light weight lambs sold to processors for Merino kill bag lamb orders, with store buyer competition limited and mainly focused on the smallest lambs for less dollar per head outlay. A mixed yarding of sheep sold to erratic price trends in a sale that was difficult to follow at times. The heaviest crossbred ewes were cheaper, with not all exporters operating. There was more buying depth over the best presented lines of trade weight Merinos and light sheep.Heavy crossbred ewes varied from $88 to $128/head at estimated averages from 320c to 340c/kg cwt. The main lines of trade weight Merino ewes sold from $76 to $115 to average approximately $90/head. Light weight sheep recovered to be dearer than a fortnight ago. There was a price spread, making from 330c to 400c/kg cwt over the bulk of the mutton yarding.

SUCKERS

Cramlington Park (116) Elmore  $ 162.00 

Hayhill P/L (41) Yea  $ 155.00 

Marke Past (26) Tatura $ 154.00 

CROSSBRED LAMBS

B & M Barlow (82) Wanalta  $ 228.00 

Riverton Lodge P/L (33) Barham $ 222.00 

J Conlan T/A Tumbywood (122) Creek View  $ 217.00 

McIvor & Brown (12) Longwood  $ 212.00 

B & J Tuohey (63) Serpentine  $ 198.00 

A & C Branson (50) Colbinabbin  $ 196.00 

Mullins Farms (38) Eddington  $ 196.00 

S & A Baker (38) Maryborough  $ 196.00 

GN Davies (48) Eddington  $ 196.00 

R & K Mullane (15) Rochester  $ 195.00 

B Wootten (50) Rushworth  $ 190.00 

GF & MA Rathjen (45) Colbinabbin  $ 189.00 

PS & LJ Whitehead (117) Bealiba  $ 186.00 

JM & RM Ryan (56) Wanalta  $ 186.00 

KJ & VE Micheel (69) Elmore  $ 180.00 

ST & JA Cain (33) Moama  $ 178.00 

B Gierisch (45) Shelbourne  $ 176.00 

B & F Moon (120) Pyramid Hill $ 174.00 

Noel Harvey (69) Nagambie  $ 173.00 

R & D Last (159) Fiery Flat  $ 172.00 

Yenken Past Co (54) Mansfield  $ 170.00 

Gavin Lester - Smith (51) Carlsruhe  $ 169.00 

JD Cox (64) Charlton $ 168.00 

FJ & MM Dean (40) Wahring  $ 163.00 

J Knight (51) Axedale  $ 163.00 

PT & KF Howard (100) Goornong  $ 163.00 

NF & PJ Wright (56) Charlton  $ 163.00 

Collins & Jones (161) Jarklin  $ 161.00 

E Goers (52) Derrinal  $ 161.00 

E & W Carmody (46) Calivil  $ 161.00 

D & P Lougoon (37) Leichardt  $ 160.00 

RAMJ P/L (16) Knowsley  $ 160.00 

TRT Pastoral (60) Piries  $ 159.00 

J,N & C Linton (25) Pompapiel  $ 158.00 

Stonehaven Farm Trust (34) Normanville  $ 155.00 

MERINO LAMBS 

P & C Mason (60) McIntyre  $ 125.00 

O'Sullivans Trading (40) Elmore  $ 124.00 

RG & EJ Tonkin & Sons Family Trust (52) Inglewood $ 121.00 

Philora (68) Kamarooka  $ 118.00 

Hall Family Trust (21) Buckrabanyule  $ 115.00 

MERINO WETHERS 

M Alston (73) Euroa  $ 112.00 

PA,TJ & LM Tobin (54) Baynton  $ 104.00 

D & S Twigg (96) Pyramid Hill  $ 101.60 

Gooddolpin Trading (44) Ruffy  $ 97.00 

Keeyuga Past (134) Ruffy  $ 93.00 

CROSSBRED EWES

Barr Downs P/L (25) Kerang  $ 128.00 

PJ & BJ Meighan (28) Mitiamo  $ 115.00 

T & K Campbell (30) Macorna  $ 113.00 

Thomas H Carmody (17) Elmore  $ 112.00 

Pompapiel Past Co (20) Raywood  $ 110.00 

PA & NE Clarke (28) Kyneton  $ 108.00 

Merristock P/L (25) Beveridge  $ 106.00 

HopeAvon (54) Kurting  $ 104.00 

Keeyuga Past Co (13) Ruffy  $ 96.00 

MERINO EWES

R & H Last (45) Fiery Flat  $ 115.00 

RAMJ (118) Knowsley  $ 110.00 

Sascot Partners (65) Bungaluke  $ 108.00 

Pompapiel Past (59) Raywood  $ 108.00 

B & S McCAhon (20) Pyramid Hill  $ 103.00 

Cathcart Corp (38) Fernihurst  $ 91.00 

January 5

Cattle numbers were very similar this week with 295 coming forward. Heavy steers sold to a top of $2.56 per kilo. Medium to heavy steers sold to a top of $2.62 per kilo, both falling 4 cents. A mixed run of vealers came through and the better calves sold to a top of $2.98 per kilo dropping 10 cents from last week’s market. A good run of cows sold to a top of $1.92 per kilo dropping 2 to 4 cents. 

QUOTES  

Heavy Steers over 500kg sold to $2.56

Medium to Heavy Steers 450- 500 kg sold to 2.62

Steer Veal Heavy over 400kgs sold to 2.90

Steer Veal medium 320 – 390kg sold to 2.95

Heifers Veal 420 to 490kgs sold to $ 2.85

Heifer Veal 320 – 390kgs sold to $2.98 Beef Cows - $1.92

STEERS

W & P Cowan - Elmore  $ 1,697.40 

Gamboni Nom - Bagshot Nth $ 1,683.68 

D Griffiths - Bendigo East $ 1,671.95 

B & H Felix P/L - Lockwood Sth $ 1,266.00 

L Wright - Huntly  $ 1,252.10 

S & E Twomey -Myola $ 1,218.30 

G Davey - Kamarooka  $ 958.90 

VEALERS

Gamboni Nom - Bagshot Nth $ 1,246.10 

Sunnyrose Farms - Toolleen  $ 1,172.80 

MR Baker - Tennyson  $ 1,052.80 

P & M Hird - Heathcote  $ 976.80 

D & L Broad - Pyramid Hill  $ 830.63 

COWS

R Allott - Axe Creek $ 1,381.80 

LJ Forbes - Eddington $ 1,362.18 

LJ Forbes - Eddington $ 1,337.60 

S & E Twomey - Derrinal  $ 1,324.40 

R Sellwood - Strangways $ 1,119.25 

Ken Papworth - Huntly $ 1,023.40 

D & L Broad - Pyramid Hill $ 980.58 

B Pepper - Mandurang $ 928.80 

HEIFERS

Ken Papworth - Huntly $ 1,398.25 

M Mulvihill - Quarry Hill $ 1,311.50 

S & E Twomey - Myola  $ 1,215.24 

F Hill - Derrinal $ 980.01 

BULLS

W & P Cowan - Elmore $ 1,822.25 

R Sellwood - Strangways $ 1,822.25 

ORDER OF SALE

Week ending, February 16

McKean & McGregor 6 & 4; Ellis Nuttall  4 & 1; FP Nevins  5 & 2; Landmark   2 & 6; Elders 1 & 3; Rodwells  3 & 5.