East Coast lamb yardings responded to the slightly weaker prices of recent times by falling 5%. Throughput in Victoria and WA held steady but all other states saw a week-on-week decline.
Lamb slaughter numbers were slightly lower, dropping 2% to see 305,154 head processed for the week ending the 26th of January.
The Eastern States Trade Lamb Indicator lost 13¢ on the week to end at 835¢/kg cwt. In WA, trade lambs picked up an extra 14¢ to sit at 710¢/kg cwt. The trade lamb discount in WA to the ESTLI is currently at 17%, which is an improvement on the 28% discount at this same time last year.
Light, Merino and Restocker lambs in WA came out on top this week, each gaining 65 to 90¢. In most eastern states these categories lost around 25 to 30¢ on the week.
Mutton markets showed strength this week, the National Mutton Indicator gained 7¢, to 638¢, but it was South Australia where demand really took off, with mutton prices gaining 42¢ to 630¢/kg cwt. The National Mutton Indicator is currently 45¢ lower than this time last year and it’s not due to higher supply.
Red to the east, green to the west
East Coast lamb yardings responded to the slightly weaker prices of recent times by falling 5%. Throughput in Victoria and WA held steady but all other states saw a week-on-week decline.
Lamb slaughter numbers were slightly lower, dropping 2% to see 305,154 head processed for the week ending the 26th of January.
The Eastern States Trade Lamb Indicator lost 13¢ on the week to end at 835¢/kg cwt. In WA, trade lambs picked up an extra 14¢ to sit at 710¢/kg cwt. The trade lamb discount in WA to the ESTLI is currently at 17%, which is an improvement on the 28% discount at this same time last year.
Light, Merino and Restocker lambs in WA came out on top this week, each gaining 65 to 90¢. In most eastern states these categories lost around 25 to 30¢ on the week.
Mutton markets showed strength this week, the National Mutton Indicator gained 7¢, to 638¢, but it was South Australia where demand really took off, with mutton prices gaining 42¢ to 630¢/kg cwt. The National Mutton Indicator is currently 45¢ lower than this time last year and it’s not due to higher supply.
The week ahead….
The two week rainfall forecast by the BOM is looking very wet indeed. Nearly all of the country is looking at a 50% or greater chance of receiving above median rainfall. This (if it comes to fruition), along with the weaker eastern market, will likely put a halt on any substantial increase in supply.
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Data sources: MLA, NLRS, Mecardo
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More rain lifts prices
Widespread rain on the East Coast helped prices continue their upward trajectory, supported by a decrease in throughput as growers’ feed supply concerns further eased.
Lamb turnoff takes precedence
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Lambs are looking up
Rainfall in the east – whether it actually fell or is still forecast to come – continued to support sheep and lamb prices this week,
Future breeders moving off farm?
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) released its quarterly Livestock Products report last week, and while we can get some indications from weekly data, the
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