THE resilience of the lamb market in NSW has been reflected in the average price for both trade and heavy lambs recovering more than 15 cents a kilogram (carcase weight) in the past week.
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The market had been struggling to forge buyer support for several weeks, but a shift in processor demand across some bigger yardings in the south of the state and a slow increase in the supply of new season lambs has refreshed the market trend.
NSW trade lambs averaged about 812c/kg and heavy lambs close to 760c/kg early this week.
Both these prices sit well above those of other eastern states. Trade lambs in Victoria averaged 747c/kg and heavy lambs 749c/kg, while in South Australia, trades were 725c/kg and heavies 707c/kg.
Old trade lambs gained $8 to $12 a head to average 815c/kg at Wagga Wagga prime lamb sale last Thursday, while strong interest in new season lambs for the domestic market pushed prices to 843c/kg.
Trade lambs were also about $8 to $10 dearer (averaging 848c/kg) at Griffith last Friday, where the yarding was also bigger than the week before.
An exception to the dearer trend played out at the Forbes lamb sale on Tuesday where there was a big increase in the supply of lambs.
There were 5800 new season lambs penned and although the quality was good, prices eased $18 to $24.
Meat and Livestock Australia reported trade weights sold from $162 to $185.
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