Lamb supply decreased to 10,336 head yarded at Ballarat today. Quality was mixed, with not all weight categories covered. The usual buying group attended and operated in a market with some extra competition from local processors, with the demand on the 22-26kg lambs. Trade weight lambs sold to $267/head, with the better quality lambs averaging 1,058c/kg in places. Restockers and feeders paid from $143 to $185, and from $51 to $96/head for the plainer lighter lots. Light weight 2 score lambs 12-18kg sold from $101 to $172, averaging 820c, while light trade 2 and 3 score lambs weighing 18-22kg made from $150 to $218/head, to average 885c/kg cwt. Medium trade weight 3 and 4 score lambs 22-24kg sold from $194 to $254, or from 835c to 1,058c to average 915c/kg cwt. Heavy 3 and 4 score trade weight lambs 24-26kg sold from $220 to $267, to average 945c, while export lambs 26-30kg made from $235 to $256/head, averaging 910c/kg cwt. There were no extra heavy lambs on offer. Heavy hoggets sold from $136 to $178 for Merinos and from $70 to $224/head for crossbreds. Sheep numbers increased to 4,012 head, with good quality runs of Merino ewes and wethers with the better quality sheep selling from $5 to $10/head dearer on last week in places. Light weight 1 and 2 score sheep sold from $76 to $109, averaging 505c/kg cwt, with the very light 1 score sheep making to $69/head. Medium weight 2 and 3 score sheep made from $98 to $159/head, or from 448c to 646c, with Merino mutton averaging 550c/kg cwt. Heavy Merino ewes sold from $146 to $175, averaging 595c to be 20c dearer than last week, while heavy Merino wethers made from $151 to $201/head, averaging 680c/kg cwt. Medium weights sold from $116 to $157, averaging 580c/kg cwt, while rams made from $88 to $160/head.

SHORN LAMBS

193 SG & CJ Booley, Teesdale $267

42 AH & JG Stewart Pty Ltd, Hillside $260

59 P & V Mortlock Nom, Campbelltown $256

75 IJ & HM Bates, Munro $254

34 Englewood Park, Inverleigh $247

68 TM & RK Fleming, Leslie Manor $245

53 JW Gray, Darlington $245

36 Goldsworthy Family Trust, Mortlake $242

71 AW & WJ Newell, Bookaar $240

15 B & N Lenaghan, Dunnstown $239

42 HA, SB, BD & MJ Treweek, Ascot $235

20 RG & EA McDonald, Mt Bute $235

20 DG Rowe & Sons, Bannockburn $232

56 Glendonald Pty Ltd, Creswick $230

21 Laurelville Pty Ltd, Donald $230

82 BL & AL Shanahan, Greendale $225

72 Stiles Farm Services Trust, Mt Moriac $215

16 J Atkinson, Lovely Banks $214

20 Commera Pastoral, Creswick $213

30 A & K McDougall, Tarrone $212

47 B & S Huf, Woolsthorpe $210

33 W, J & M Black, Beremboke $206

28 Glenayr, Beaufort $204

18 ID & SL Robertson, Skipton $204

113 Gervasoni Ag, Kooroocheang $202

37 RA Smith & Sons, Mt Wallace $202

79 AO & DA Wade, Woorndoo $201

31 Consett Co Pty Ltd, Carapook $200

64 W Grigg & Sons, Wallace $191

33 CC & CW Coates Pty Ltd, Natte Yallock $180

XBRED SHEEP

15 AG & D Matthey, Bannockburn $200

13 RG & EA McDonald, Mt Bute $200

18 AH & JG Stewart Pty Ltd, Hillside $199

12 A & D Eason, Ararat $185

80 JA & LJ Lehmann, Hexham $173

61 Mingawalla Ag, Beeac $170

29 Falkiner Ag, Freshwater Creek $144

MERINO EWES

11 HR Duver, Rhymney $175

15 AH & JG Stewart Pty Ltd, Hillside $170

20 Yaltatt Pty Ltd, Tatyoon $162

21 Tourello Estate, Tourello $153

21 KR Impey, Lexton $146

30 Ipsen Agriculture, Bowenvale $115

MERINO WETHERS

77 C Kattiwinkel, Omberlsey $201

47 G Miles, Warrenmang $187

65 TM & RK Fleming, Leslie Manor $183

45 Boardman & Stray, She Oaks $170

85 Keith Partnership, Elmhurst $159

42 KA & HM Palmer, Mannibadar $156

179 Grant Partners, Raglan $151

19 J & L White, Lindenow Sth $151

52 AM & JG Burger, Great Western $140

34 T Bartlett, Rathscar $140

25 Consett Co, Carapook $127

73 SW Martin, Concongella $125

August 5. Yarding: 110. Change: 21.

Numbers increased to 110 head yarded at Ballarat. All the usual buying group attended and operated in a firm to dearer market in places. Quality was average to good, with cows making up 50% of the yarding. Vealers and yearlings sold to restockers to 313c, to improve 20c/kg on last week's market. Heavy beef cows sold to 245c/kg, holding firm on last week. The numbers were made up of 56 cows, 22 heifers, 24 steers and 8 bulls. Vealers and yearlings sold to the trade from 220c to 300c, with feeders and restockers paying from 183c to 313c/kg. Grown heifers sold to the trade from 230c to 300c for C muscle types, and from 200c to 240c for D muscle types, while restockers and feeders paid to 225c/kg. Heavy C muscle cows sold to the trade from 191c to 245c, while medium weight 2 score cows sold from 158c to 214c and the lighter cows made to 140c/kg. Restockers paid from 170c to 207c/kg. Heavy beef bulls sold from 212c to 242c, while medium weight bulls made from 229c to 250c/kg.

Cattle, Monday

1 Landmark

2 TB White & Sons Pty Ltd

3 Charles Stewart

4 HF Richardson

5 Elders Ltd

Sheep, Tuesday

1 Landmark

2 TB White & Sons Pty Ltd

3 Charles Stewart

4 HF Richardson

5 Elders Ltd

Cattle numbers from Queensland continued to rise online, rising by over 500 head to see 3500 cattle offered on AuctionsPlus last week. Light restocker heifers from Queensland under 280kg sold from 226c to 288c, averaging 246c, down 10c on the previous week. The top priced line was a mob of 208kg Angus heifers from Toobeah. Heifers over 280kg from Queensland made from 243c to 322c, to average 274c, down 8c. Highlights included 330kg Angus heifers from Goondiwindi selling for 322c, and 303kg Shorthorn heifers also from Goondiwindi making 292c. Steers under 280kg from Queensland fell on the previous week averaging 281c, down 15c, selling from 247c to 300c. The top priced line was a mob of 274kg Angus steers. Steers over 280kg made from 257c to 339c, and averaged 299c. Just under 800 cows from Queensland were offered online last week, as producers look to sell off any non-core breeders. Mixed age cows sold from $470 to $1025, to average $785. The top priced line was a mob of Murray Grey cross cows from Mitchell. Other Queensland highlights included three to nine-year-old Santa cows from Alpha - selling for $935, and 343kg Angus/Santa cross steers from Moonie selling for 311c.

SHEEP

Sheep number numbers from Queensland exploded online last week to see 9519 sheep and lambs offered, up 6000 from the previous week. The sheep market continues to sit at historical highs, and this was seen online with the national clearance rate rising to 84 per cent, while the state of Queensland saw a 100 per cent clearance last week. Merino wethers and wether lambs online were topped by a line of 12 to 14 month old hoggets from Longreach, Queensland making 806c dress weight or $166.