Lamb numbers eased, with 13,716 yarded this week at Ballarat.

Quality was average to very good, with reasonable numbers of trade weight and heavy lambs yarded.

The usual buying group operated, with urgency on the quality trade weight lambs, they sold close to firm, at times the best presented short skinned lambs sold above 1,000c/kg cwt.

Heavy and extra heavy lambs were a few dollars easier, reaching $330/head.

Restockers and feeders were active, paying from $144 to $215/head. Lighter lots sold from $71 to $114 and Merino lambs made from $176 to $211/head.

Light weight 2 score lambs weighing 12-18kg sold from $86 to $184/head. Light trade 2 and 3 score lambs weighing 18-22 kg made from $186 to $225/head to average 895c/kg cwt.

Medium trade weight 3 and 4 score lambs weighing 22-24kg received from $186 to $250/head, making from 800c to 1,025c to average close to 935c/kg cwt.

Heavy 3 to 4 score trade weight lambs weighing 24-26 kg sold from $185 to $260/head to average approximately 930c/kg cwt. Export lambs weighing 26-30 kg sold from $235 to $278/head.

Extra heavy export lambs weighing 30kg plus sold from $290 to $330/head to average 890c/kg cwt.

Hoggets sold from $130 to $270 for crossbreds and Merinos made to $144/head.

Sheep supply was similar, with 4906 head yarded and quality varied from light weight Merino ewes to heavy crossbred ewes. Sheep mainly sold to a dearer trend as supplies tighten, $5 to $12/head up on last week and more in places. Crossbred ewes sold to $260, as heavy Merino wethers reached $230/head.

Rams continued to attract competition, making to $216/head.

Light weight 1 and 2 score sheep made from $62 to $123 to average 550c/kg cwt, with very light 1 scores receiving from $68 to $75/head.

Medium weight 2 and 3 score sheep sold from $106 to $150/head, or from 515c to 630c, with Merino mutton averaging approximately 590c/kg cwt.

Heavy Merino ewes sold from $151 to $185, as heavy Merino wethers made to $230, while medium weights received from $109.60 to $144/head.

Heavy Merino sheep sold from 620c to 730c/kg cwt. Heavy 3 to 4 score crossbred sheep made from $140 to $260/head to average approximately 620c/kg cwt.

Rams made from $62 to $216 and crossbred wethers sold from $150 to $296/head.

SHORN LAMBS

80, Carlisle Farming, Dean, $330

79, Mountain View, Gordon, $325

60, La Rose, Blowhard, $320

77, PFTAGG P/L, Ascot, $320

107, Quinlan Farming, Springbank, $314

42, Nalong Holdings, Dunnstown, $310

73, Precison Production, Dean, $290

104, BM Maher, Springbank, $289

100, Sunnyside Farm, Addington, $276

29, JW Gray, Darlington, $270

135, BJ Frawley & Sons, Bungaree, $262

71, LC & RA Maybery, Mitre, $260

64, Linsdale Nominees, Lake Bolac, $253

62, KF & CM Mullane, Waubra, $252

55, MR & LM Horne, Cressy, $250

35, HR Haintz & Sons, Springbank, $250

38, P & M Gristede, Peterborough, $245

48, G Wallace & A Stone, Yuulong, $242

13, JP Daly, Lismore, $240

61, CA & LM Wardlaw, Woorndoo, $238

46, RE & AR Wadlaw, Avoca, $237

56, James Sobey, Blowhard, $236

69, Chesterdale P/L, Sutherlands Creek $235

24, Weering Pastoral, Weering, $232

70, IW McLachlan, Darlington, $227

41, Rumler & Trainor, Lismore, $227

36, NJ & SA Lubcke, Winchelsea, $223

105, R & P Sandlant, Lexton, $222

46, Gallant Downs, Dumbalk, $221

35, J Smith, Derrinallum, $220

21, Tarra Park, Minjah, $216

63, Maylin Partnership, Derrinallum, $215

44, G & K Browne, Tarwin, $214

45, K & J McPhee, Glenorchy, $211

50, Naratec P/L, Tatyoon, $208

21, IC Collins, Eddington, $206

60, Wynlaton Trees, Skipton, $204

XBRED SHEEP

12, Nalong Holdings, Dunnstown, $270

10, W & S Bucknall, Majorca, $248

21, Mount Hesse P/L, Winchelsea, $243

21, Mooleric Pastoral, Ombersley, $236

16, R Harris, Bungal, $230

15, Gala P/L, Lismore, $228

23, MJ & DJ Stewart P/L, Hillside, $226

21, D & M Addison, Allambee Reserve $214

47, PM & RM Dooley, Warncoort, $205

21, Naratec P/L, Tatyoon, $180

30, Bonnie Veiw Ag P/L, Winchelsea South $175

30, J Smith, Derrinallum, $175

MERINO EWES

49, MJ & DJ Stewart P/L, Hillside, $165

15, Elmdon Wingeel P/L, Wingeel, $146

21, RB & MJ Mortlock Nom P/L, Archdale $130

36, Wingiel Pastoral, Wingeel, $123

MERINO WETHERS

34, Daisymount P/L, Natte Yallock, $230

136, Real Food Farming, Yandoit, $153

69, EW Hayward & Sons, Burrumbeet, $146

26, Paratoo Properties, Lexton, $144

80, Craigwood P/L, Shelford, $143

35, DJ & MA Hunt, Elaine, $130

June 24. Yarding: 223. Change: down 132.

Numbers declined to 223 this week at Ballarat in a mixed yarding, with cows making up over 50 per cent of the yarding.

The usual buying group plus some extra export competition operated in a primarily stronger market. Young cattle numbers were limited, with yearling steers to the trade making to 300c/kg.

Steer vealers sold to feeders and restockers up to 302c/kg. Grown heifers sold 10c dearer, making to 250c/kg.

Well covered cows made to 251c, as cows generally sold 10c to 30c/kg stronger on last week. Heavy beef bulls made to 223c, as restockers paid to 254c/kg.

The numbers comprised 120 cows, 34 steers, 51 heifers, 23 bulls and some open auction young cattle. Vealers and yearlings sold to the trade from 238c to 300c, as D2 types reach 200c/kg.

Feeders and restockers paid from 238c to 302c, as D muscle young cattle sold from 160c to 216c/kg.

The few light weight grown steers sold to 281c and feeders paid to 238c/kg.

Medium and heavy weight grown heifers made from 220c to 250c/kg. Plainer D muscle heifers sold from 142c to 180c/kg. Restockers and feeders paid from 136c to 220c/kg.

Cows sold to stronger competition, with heavy C muscle 3 and 4 scores receiving from 195c to 251c/kg. D muscle 3 and 4 scores sold from 180c to 250c/kg. D muscle 2 score cows made from 160c to 185c/kg.

Medium weight D2 and D3 score cows sold from 120c to 211c, as the D1 cows made from 120c to 150c/kg. Light D and E muscle cows sold from 80c to 110c/kg.

Restockers paid from 170c to 250c/kg. Heavy beef bulls sold similar to last week, making from 154c to 223c/kg.

Cattle, Monday

1 TB White & Sons Pty Ltd

2 Charles Stewart

3 HF Richardson

4 Elders Ltd

5 Landmark

Sheep, Tuesday

1 TB White & Sons Pty Ltd

2 Charles Stewart

3 HF Richardson

4 Elders Ltd

5 Landmark