There were a record number of sheep drafted for the SELX Prime sheep and lamb sale this week, with 42,000 in the line up and an eventual 38,000 yarded on Thursday, 1500 more than the previous sale.
The numbers caused a strain on logistics with most of the cattle yards needing to be utilised despite the weekly cattle sale commencing the next day.
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Elders Goulburn livestock agent, Ben Seaman said the biggest yarding last year was 35,000, the increase of 3000 head this year a sign of the times.
"I definitely haven't seen a sale this big here before," Mr Seaman said.
"To be yarding all your sheep in the cattle yards and having every single pen in the yards full, with 2000 cattle coming tomorrow it's going to be pretty hectic here for the next 24 hours I would say.
"Producer's are running out of water and obviously we're two sales away from Christmas where we will have a month's break so everyone is offloading."
The National Livestock Reporting Service said quality across the board was noticeably plainer this week but there were some good heavy sheep on offer for export processors.
They said there were few trade lambs yarded and prices eased in most weight ranges by $8/head, heavy trade lambs selling from $162 to $168, averaging 691c/kg carcase weight.
Store lambs were well supplied and were up to $6 cheaper in places, restockers paying $95 to $157 a head.
Mr Seaman said there were plenty of lambs in the 28-30kg weight range.
He said the mutton market was stronger than anticipated, with wethers making up to $220/hd.
The National Livestock Reporting Service stated the heavy ewe market eased $2/hd, heavy cross bred ewes making $148 to $192.
Mr Seaman said water was starting to compete with lack of feed as a reason for destocking.
"Water is starting to become a big issue towards the Braidwood area and it's only a few weeks away for it to effect Goulburn and surrounding areas as well," Mr Seaman said.
James and Tom McCormack, Crookwell sold 485 August-drop lambs in the sale. They said although they were in a very good spot compared to most, they were still selling off more lambs than usual.
"I usually try and take all the firsts and seconds through and sell the residual on AuctionsPlus but we've got the seconds here today," Mr McCormack said.
"Feed and water will become a concern in the next month at home, we're just planning ahead."
Wagga Wagga saleyards is also expecting large numbers at their sale today, with 51,000 in the draft.