The purchase of store lambs has continued at a steady pace this few past months with market data revealing early season buying is back to normal after the slow start made last year.
On average 14 to 15 per cent of this year’s spring lamb yardings sold at the major saleyards have returned to the paddock, almost double last year and slightly below par compared to 2015 and 2014.
No doubt the encouragement of strong forward prices in the 600-630c/kg bracket for the New Year has acted as an incentive. However the sleeper to the future supply conundrum is the selling activities of prime lamb breeders over the same period is up 18pc on last year and 1-2pc higher than 2015 and 2014. East coast lamb slaughter for the past three months is also higher, up 6pc.