Increased supplies were handled as the peak of the selling season shifted to the central western areas of Victoria and the southeast of South Australia.

A month or more of dry weather has brought these supply districts earlier especially in the Victorian area, resulting in supplies at Ballarat topping the 32,000 head level for the first time this season.

However with quality on the decline at most of the northern outlets, solid demand was continued.

At Ballarat prices averaged unchanged to $3 higher for trade and heavy weights.

The National Livestock Reporting Service said that increased numbers of dry-wooled lambs were on hand, however restocker demand was not overly eager and about 20 per cent were returned to the paddock.

Gerard White, TB White and Sons said the market especially quality fresh lambs held up well considering the weight of numbers.

“Lambs under the supermarket weights and looking a bit dry I thought were cheap,” Mr White said.

Heavy young lambs made $90-$114 or 360 cents a kilogram while trade lambs realised $76-$92 to trade from 340-360c/kg.

Restocker lambs were bought mostly from $46-$60.

On Monday supplies offered at Bendigo eased slightly to 33,200 but solid restocker inquiry kept this market on track, albeit slightly behind the centre’s previous rates.

The NLRS said a large percentage of this yarding were dry in the skin or had seed contamination which saw more numbers of this year’s shorn young lambs offered as a result.

Heavy young lambs made $89-$109 while trade weights fetched $63-$93. Light trade lambs made $56-$82 while restockers paid $44-$62.

Shorn young lambs made $68-$80 with heavy old lambs sold to $94.

Extract from Prime Sheep to appear in Stock & Land, October 30.