Numbers increased to 19,134 head. Lamb numbers were 13,354 the quality ranged from average to good, with a good mix of all weights yarded. The usual buying group attended and operated in a mostly firm market. Good quality trade weight lambs again selling to around 1000c/kg cwt in places. Heavy 30kg + lambs were limited selling to $317/head. Restockers and feeders paid from $135 to $204 with the lighter lots selling from $38 to $110/head. Light weight 2 score lambs 12kg to 18kg sold from $108 to $179/head to average 850c/kg cwt.

Light trade 2 and 3 score lambs 18kg to 22kg sold from $164 to $230/head to average 950c/kg cwt. Medium trade weight 3 and 4 score lambs 22kg to 24 kg sold from $208 to $243/head, ranging from 900c to 1055c to average 950c/kg cwt. Heavy 3 to 4 score trade weight lambs 24kg to 26kg sold from $230 to $267/head to average around 995c/kg cwt. Export lambs 26kg 30kg sold from $271 to $300/head to average 970c/kg cwt. Extra heavy export lambs 30kg+ sold from $310 to $317/head. Hoggets sold from $88 to $200 for crossbreds and Merinos to $210/head. Sheep numbers increased to 5780 with large runs of Merino ewes and wethers yarded.

Merino wethers sold to $147 and crossbred wethers sold to $200/head. Well covered Merino mutton sold to $170/head. Light weight 1 and 2 score sheep made from $77 to $127 to average 575c/kg cwt with very light 1 scores making from $34 to $69/head. Medium weight 2 and 3 score sheep made from $98 to $170/head ranging from 510c to 690c with Merino mutton averaging around 610c/kg cwt.

Merino wethers sold from $112 to $147/head to average around 640c/kg cwt. Heavy 3 to 4 score crossbred sheep sold from $162 to $175/head to average 600c/kg cwt. Rams sold from $73 to $152/head.

SHORN LAMBS

70 E Clarke & Sons, Dunnstown $317

108 PFT Agg Pty Ltd, Ascot $310

30 P & V Mortlock Nominees, Campbelltown $300

10 Eldmead Pty Ltd, Lexton $293

79 Laliraa, Swan Reach $286

80 Thomas Ag, Ascot $280

54 KW Clark & MR Lovett, Strathlea $277

54 Howell Pastoral Co, Ampitheatre $275

44 RE & AR Wardlaw, Avoca $271

91 PA & JA Morcombe, Mena Park $267

17 Ballan Ag, Ballan $264

90 DJ & K Mortlock, Dunluce $262

118 PM Laidlaw, Lismore $258

60 Lachaber Mac Pty Ltd, Warncoort $258

36 SK Bartlett, Alma $251

36 Naweenda Partnership, Mortlake $251

45 RM & LA McKinnon, Weatherboard $248

66 Kelloe Grove, Learmonth $246

59 J Alexander, Mannibadar $245

65 Mallee View, Galga $243

34 PR & EP Muir & HE Muir, Myrniong $243

53 CP & JM Fisher, Bugle Hut $240

45 G & M McTigue, Gordon $240

10 K & LE Mowatt, Simpson $239

51 Franc Farming, Carranballac $238

38 GJ & GM Gugger, Stonehaven $232

30 KF & CM Mullane, Waubra $230

52 SJ & CY Muir, Woorndoo $225

61 DSJ Agri, Maryborough $220

52 Hoogley Grazing, Timor West $220

56 R Gilmore, Woorndoo $202

20 R & L Sanders, Werneth $198

19 R & J Selway, Minjah $197

28 Tuki Pty Ltd, Smeaton $195

25 AJ & VM Jolly, Avoca $193

11 LA & SA Perry, Amherst $184

24 Boovando, Tourello $182

MERINO LAMBS

94 Fisher Bros, Lexton $233

66 P & V Mortlock Nominees, Dunluce $210

106 B Nash Partner, Serviceton $170

XBRED SHEEP

16 E & P Donovan, Illabarook $190

25 Mingawalla Ag, Beeac $175

27 G Lockhart, Irrawarra $168

21 D & J MacDonald, Porcupine Ridge $162

10 Howell Pastoral Co, Ampitheatre $160

MERINO EWES

21 Graigwood, Shelford $158

42 AW & EJ McClelland, Mt Hooghly $146

51 NR Weir, Dunluce $144

46 LA & CJ Astbury, Tanwood $140

20 Gleneagles Partnership, Willaura $138

66 ED & HM McCrae, Willaura $131

25 R & H Kent, Meredith $122

24 Stuan Ag Pty Ltd, Lismore $112

MERINO WETHERS

142 Denholm Green, Hexham $196

41 ED & HM McCrae, Willaura $147

22 JF Anderson, Elaine $147

34 GM & HJ McKenzie, Illabarook $126

July 16. Yarding: 44. Change: down 114.

Numbers declined to 44 head yarded at Ballarat in a typical mid-winter market. Only a small number of the usual buying group attended and operated in a firm to dearer market. The quality was mixed, with well covered cows a few cents dearer, making to 250c/kg. Vealers and yearlings made to 278c, as grown heifers sold keenly to 287c/kg holding firm on last week. Numbers comprised 16 cows, 10 steers, 12 heifers, 2 bulls and a few pens of open auction young cattle. Vealers and yearlings sold to the trade to 224c, with restockers and feeders paying from 230c to 278c/kg. Grown Heifers sold to the trade to 287c for C muscle types and to 191c/kg for D muscle types. Restockers and feeders paid to 204c/kg. Heavy C muscle cows received from 225c to 250c/kg. Medium weight 2 score cows sold to 195c/kg. Light weight D1 and D2 score cows sold from 180c to 191c, as light E1 types made to 142c/kg. Heavy beef bulls sold keenly reaching 240c, making from 224c to 240c/kg.

Cattle, Monday

1 HF Richardson

2 Landmark

3 Elders Ltd

5 Charles Stewart

6 TB White & Sons Pty Ltd

Sheep & Lambs, Tuesday

1 HF Richardson

2 Landmark

3 Elders Ltd

5 Charles Stewart

6 TB White & Sons Pty Ltd

Cattle numbers from Queensland dipped to 1582 last week, 612 fewer than the previous week. However, the drop in numbers did not impact buyer confidence, with sales nationally seeing an increase in prices on most stock categories and a 91 per cent clearance achieved across all sales. Queensland saw an 87pc clearance, drawing buyers from southern Queensland, and the central west and Hunter regions of NSW. Light restocker heifers under 280kg saw strong demand, selling from 202c to 284c, averaging 246c, up 22c. Heifers 280k-350kg sold from 265c to 305c averaging, 283c. Steers under 280kg averaged 297c, down 11c and ranged from 250c to 310c.

SHEEP

Sheep and lamb number numbers flowed onto AuctionsPlus to see 7441 head offered. The national goat sale saw 1680 Boer and Rangeland offered, achieving 100pc clearance. Merino wethers and wether lambs averaged $139 and were topped by a line of 2 to 3-year-old woolgrowers from Quilpie. This line of 53kg Murrawondah and Coban blood wethers drew interstate bidding and sold for $168 to a buyer from Bendigo, Vic. Store lambs continue to see strong demand nationally, with 8 to 9-month-old 37kg Border Leicester/Merino wether lambs from Dirranbandi selling for 876c dw/$141, while 8 to 9-month-old Dorper wether lambs from Talwood sold for 985c/$133.