Wagga market up $10 to $12, tops at $204

Trade lambs were the standout. Most found prices well above 600 cents a kilogram (carcass weight).

A reduced yarding of 30,000 - 25,000 lambs and 5000 sheep - was put down to producers turning their attention to sowing crops after widespread rain fell across the Riverina over the past two weekends.

A lift in prices didn't come at much surprise given the strength in the Forbes and Carcoar markets this week and all major processors were operating.

Across the board today, on estimated cwt, most of the heavy to extra heavy lambs would have made 560c/kg cwt to 580c/kg cwt.

Extra heavy lambs topped at $204, offered by Lola O'Rafferty, "Kelvin Grove", Old Junee.

Meat and Livestock Australia quoted plainer light weight lambs to processors to have lifted $8 to $12 a head due to tight numbers.

Mutton were expected to be dearer again because of a light yarding.

Merino ewes suitable for trade were unchanged to $3/head cheaper, heavy wethers averaged 434c/kg cwt and and trade sheep averaged 415c/kg cwt, according to MLA.

Dropping over $10,000 lambs on the week prior had certainly helped the price lift, said Elders Wagga Wagga livestock manager Glenn Fordyce, .

"Both supermarket chains operated today, which is a bit spasmodic, usually you can get one or the other," he said.

"And the exporters were operating so there was a full contingent of buyers from both the north and the south."