Hamilton Sheep Market Report

All data provided by 

Report Date: 17th April 2024

Total Yarding: 22,000

Commentary

Lamb numbers halved at Hamilton this week where agents penned 13,000 lambs along with 9,000 sheep. The quality overall was very good with an excellent selection of trade weight lambs in the lead of the offerings tailing off with a percentage of smaller plain condition lamb. The sheep offering consisted mainly of medium to heavy trade weight Merino’s along with a percentage of heavyweight crossbreds.

Most of the processors were present however not all were fully active. Restocker and feeder interest was very strong securing lambs again destined for SE of South Australia and along with feed lotters and local operators paid up to $152/head. The market was very resilient throughout to remain fully firm to $5 to $8/head stronger over most categories of lead lambs. The exception was 1 and 2 score lambs under 20kg which were softer by $10/head as well as lambs back to the paddock. Majority of the trade lambs were realizing between 650c and 710c/kg cwt with the odd pen a little higher to 730c/kg cwt. The best heavy lambs sold to $237/head.

Light weight lamb 12 to 16kg sold from $52 to $121/head with the 18 to 22kg lamb to the trade making from $115 to $150/head and to 26kg from $155 to $176/head. Hoggets topped at $116/head

Trade sheep were softer by $5 to $8/head with heavy Ewes $10/head cheaper. Crossbred ewes sold to $85/head with Merino ewes to $76/head and Merino wethers to $89/head with the general run of mutton realizing between 200c and 270c/kg cwt.

Market Reporter Chris Agnew.