Mount Gambier Sheep -November 18

Numbers rose as agents yarded 10,498 lambs and 237 sheep to total 10,735 head overall with a lift of over 6000 on the previous week.

These sold to the usual array of trade and processor buyers along with an increased number of active restockers this week.

Quality was generally good with some great weights and freshness in the skin over the pens as the sale was mainly firm in price with some dearer rates in places.

Light lambs to the trade sold from $126 to $148 as the light-weight trade 2 and 3 score selection made from $144 to $154/head.

Restockers sourced light lambs from $62 to $106 whilst those with more condition sold from $120 to $156/head.

Trade weight 3 score lambs were fully firm in price and were selling from $149 to $168/head or to return mostly from 730c to 760c/kg cwt.

Heavy lambs were up to $3 better in price as they sold from $169 to $192 as the extra heavy pens made from $197 to a market high of $237/head.

Hoggets ranged from $140 to $187/head.

Lighter ewes sold from $120 to $145/head.

Heavy ewes made from $170 to $207/head.

Wethers sold to a top of $212 and rams made from $80 to $130/head.

Naracoorte Sheep – November 17

Numbers lifted as agents yarded 27,719 lambs, lifting by 4000 head whilst the sheep were absent from the market for the second week due to return at the next sale.

These sold to a larger field of trade and processor buyers with another large field of restockers seeking lambs to grow on.

Quality was mixed with some excellent weights and freshness in the heavier pens while there was a large increase in the number of store types with a large number of these having gone dry in the skin.

Rates on offer were mainly firm with some select places being dearer as the market saw some strong competition among all buyers this week.

Light lambs to the trade sold from $76 to $146 with the light-weight trade types making from $145 to $156/head.

Restockers sourced light lambs from $50 to $118 and those with more conditioning sold from $123 to $165/head.

Trade weight 3 score lambs made from $147 to $170/head or returning from 740c to 780c/ kg cwt.

Heavy lambs sold from $168 to $208 with the extra heavy pens returning vendors from $197 to the market high of $240/head.The few hoggets on offer made from $135 to $190/ head.

Mount Gambier Cattle – November 18

Numbers climbed slightly as agents yarded 1593 head of liveweight and open auction cattle.

These sold to a larger field of trade and processor buyers along with feeder and restocker orders.

Quality dipped a little on pre- vious weeks as the market sold to a cheaper trend.

Vealer steers to the trade made from 417c to 446c with similar heifers returning from 380c to 440c as these eased from 10c to 20c/kg.

Vealer steers to feed sold from 391c to 430c with the heifer portion making from 395c to 408c/ kg.

Restockers turned steers back out from 440c to 470c/kg. Yearling steers to the trade sold from 372c to 436c, again 10c to 20c/kg easier week on week.

Yearling heifers to the trade made from 350c to 411c/kg. Feeder steers sold from 388c to 436c/kg.

Grown steers and bullocks to the trade softened by 10c and made from 330c to 389c with feeders selling from 368c to 404c/kg.

Grown heifers to the trade made from 333c to 395c whilst feeders sold from 368c to 395c as manufacturing steers made from 290c to 350c/kg.

Heavy cows sold from 293c to 329c to remain firm as the lighter selection made from 220c to 276c to the trade with feeders making from 255c to 324c/kg.

Bulls sold from 267c to 315c/ kg.

Millicent cattle- November 19

Agents yarded 678 live-weight cattle at Millicent Saleyards this week which also saw the return to Thursday markets.

These sold to the usual buying field, with all buyers in attendance.

Excellent quality grass fed cattle were offered, a credit to all vendors.

Heavy steers ranged from 3.68 c/kg to 4.22 c/kg. Vealer steers were top quality and ranged from 4.22 c/kg to 4.62 c/kg, vealer heifers ranged from 3.65 c/kg to 4.54 c/kg.

Cows were once again in demand and sold from 2.70 c/kg to 3.17 c/kg with bulls returning 2.80 c/kg to 3.00 c/kg.

Once again Millicent has shown that quality of cattle in the area which saw an average of 3.80 c/kg over the entire yarding.

The next sale at the Millicent Saleyards will be held today.

Naracoorte Cattle – November 17

Numbers rose as agents yarded 1572 head of live weight and open auction cattle.

These sold to the usual field of trade and processor buyers along with feeder and restocker orders.

Quality improved on the previous week with weight and condition in most pens as the market mainly ranged from firm to dearer in price.

Vealer steers received strong competition from both the trade and restockers with these lifting by 10c to 15c as they sold from 448c to 456c whilst the heifers made to a top of 440c/ kg.

Yearling steers to the trade eased as they sold from 370c to 425c with similar heifers selling from 305c to 422c/kg.

Feeder steers made from 366c to 443c with the feeder heifers selling from 332c to 420c as

restockers sourced steers to a high of 472c/kg.

There were some large weights in the grown steers and bullocks with the trade seeking these lines from 313c to 401c whilst feeder support saw animals sell from 362c to 434c/ kg.

Grown heifers to the trade made from 302c to mainly 385c with an isolated sale to 412c whilst feeder activity sold from 340c to 390c and manufacturing steers made from 272c to 348c/ kg.

Heavy cows remained firm in price as they sold from 282c to 331c with the lighter selection making from 245c to 286c with feeder support from 280c to 310c/kg.

Heavy bulls sold from 250c to 303c with lighter weights to feed selling to 380c/kg.