Wagga sheep market on top

These saleyards were also the only NSW centres to crack the one million head mark during this period according to results from the Meat and Livestock Australia annual saleyards survey for 2016-17.

MLA reported the number of sheep consigned in NSW during the past financial year was 8.4 million head and the highest of any state. 

Wagga maintained its position as the largest selling centre for sheep and lambs in both the state and the country, reporting a throughput of nearly 1.7 million head.

Dubbo saleyard took the second position in NSW, consigning just over 1.4 million head. 

A lift of about 54,700 head in the past financial year helped boost Dubbo’s postion from third the year before.

Forbes saleyard dipped a spot to third with 1.37 million head.

The new mover and shaker on the scene, Yass saleyards flew into fourth position with slightly less than 694,000 head.

Yass saleyards opened in August 2016 and has been attracting plenty of interest from both vendors and buyers looking for a new marketing option.

Rounding out the top five was Corowa with 616,971 head consigned.

The remainder of the top 10 sheep and lamb saleyards for 2016-17 were: Griffith (515,165 head); Carcoar (485,841 head); Cowra (339,021 head); Tamworth (211,767 head), and Guyra (177, 301 head).

Store sheep selling centre Narromine yarded 56,901 head during 2016-17.