Stronger competition greeted vendors at Dublin saleyards, Adelaide, on Tuesday morning, with firm to slightly better prices paid across all grades.

On the back of good supermarket and wholesaler interest, trade weight crossbred lambs were among the best improvers, rising $4-$8.

Lighter crossbreds were sought by feeder buyers, making $42-$70/head, while heavyweight crossbreds also drew better competition, improving as much as $5.

It is not surprising that, as a result of the tough seasonal conditions this year, national Merino lamb yardings increased 17pc during the first four months of 2008, with pronounced rises in South Australia and Victoria.

After starting the year with traditionally smaller offerings, Merino lamb yardings increased throughout late summer and into autumn, peaking during April, as seasonal conditions deteriorated.

Producers opted to offload lambs heading into the cooler months, as drought conditions continued over a wide area of northern SA and western Victoria.

Also, a reduced outlook for rain heading into winter, combined with the ongoing high cost of grain has given many producers little option but to lighten stocks before winter.

Merino lamb offerings in SA recorded the largest increases of the eastern states for the four months to April, with particularly large numbers recorded through the SA Livestock Exchange.

This week at Bendigo, Merino lamb prices fell by over 40¢/kg from last week's, to finish at 267¢/kg cwt, with increased offerings of plainer, lightweight 2 score lambs.

In contrast, prices in Ballarat lifted this week, with a smaller offering lifting Merino lamb prices by over 20¢, to 253¢/kg cwt.

NSW was the only state to record a fall in Merino lamb yardings during the first four months of 2008 – decreasing 10pc on the five year average.

NSW had a somewhat slower start to the year, with an improved seasonal outlook, particularly across central and northern regions of the state.

However, a lack of rain and cooler weather throughout April has seen yardings increase, with Wagga, Dubbo and Forbes recording the largest offerings.

Demand from the central NSW markets was strong from both restockers and feeders this week, particularly on the plainer lightweights.

The Merino lamb indicator at Forbes this week reached 315¢, while Dubbo recorded 292¢ and Tamworth, 271¢/kg cwt.

In the Riverina, however, Wagga’s Merino lamb indicator recorded a 15¢ reduction from last week's, to finish at 263¢/kg cwt.