AVERAGE lamb prices have jumped more than 100 cents a kilogram (carcase weight) in the past month and appear to show little sign of cooling in the short term.
The Land’s trade lamb indicator sits on 630c/kg, which was up about 16c/kg in the past week.
The top end of the lamb market in saleyards has also been recording near record prices.
In case you missed it last week, lamb prices in the saleyards hit a record at $256 a head.
The price was paid at Ballarat prime sale for 105 Poll Dorset/White Suffolk second-cross lambs, 36kg cwt, offered by Golden Grove, Newlyn, Victoria.
This price surpassed the booming records of 2011 when second-cross lambs hit $253.50 at Cowra.
Landmark Ballarat auctioneer Xavier Shanahan said last week processors couldn’t get enough lambs to fill their kill spaces to keep the plants running, although there had to be a resistance level at some stage.
“These prices aren’t sustainable,” he said.
“The reality is buyers can’t keep up.”
Goat prices up again
Over-the-hook (OTH) indicator goat rates lifted another 20 cents a kilogram (carcase weight) this week.
The National Livestock Reporting Service said prices for goats reached a top of 720c/kg on Monday.
Demand for goats has been improving for several months and the most recent rise was on the back of improved prices in saleyards as well.
OTH categories from eight kilograms right through to those weighing more than 20kg ranged from 520c/kg to 720c/kg and averaged 640c/kg.
Keeping an eye on lamb production
FOR sheep and lamb producers wanting to contribute to the wool and sheepmeat survey, they have until February 28 to fill out the questionnaire.
Conducted by Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) and Australian Wool Innovation (AWI), the survey monitors production and producer intentions, assisting producers to make more efficient decisions based on data and evidence.
MLA have said the results from this survey continue to accurately represent production trends since 2010 and provide a strong foundation for MLA’s and AWI’s industry forecasting and market information analysis.
With this in mind, the more producers who respond to the survey the greater the reliability of the data.
Individual responses remain confidential.
MLA said all responses will be aggregated with the replies from other participants to create regional, state and national wool and sheepmeat industry data.
- Visit mla.com.au
