Lamb market spring flush gathers pace

At the close of trade on Monday, only trade lamb had gone up in the national indicators, gaining 9 cents to 846c.

All other indicators went down, with light lamb recording the largest drop, losing 32c to rest at 874c.

Merino lamb lost 15c to 741c, restocker lamb dropped 11c to 939c and heavy lamb was down 3c to 856c. Mutton also dipped by 7c to 626c.

All indicators remain strong compared with last year's prices, with heavy lamb showing the biggest improvement of 106c, while trade lamb was 90c better than last year.

According to Mecardo market analyst Olivia Agar easing of supply in NSW has helped to create a more stable market.

"For the week ending November 28, east coast lamb yardings lifted another 12.5 per cent to see 230,515 lambs yarded," she said.

"This was still 5pc below average for this point in the season.

"An easing of saleyard supply in NSW was well and truly offset by Vic where over 120,000 lambs were yarded, a 42pc increase on the week prior.

"Sheep yardings increased by 3pc on the week prior."

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Elders Dublin stock agent Matt Ward said in the north of SA, new-season lambs finished about three to four weeks ago, so numbers had dropped off considerably.

"We have a few shorn lambs entering the market at Dublin at the moment but that is about it," he said.

Lamb prices are holding up reasonably well and Mr Ward suggested this would continue well into February.

"I expect March and April will see lamb numbers rise again," he said.

A statewide shearer shortage has affected gains for vendors and Mr Ward said it was unlikely to change in the near future.

"Many lambs were just not shorn in time," he said.

"Even though the returns did not decrease too much, vendors would have made probably $5-$10 more a head if the lambs were shorn."

Mr Ward said the spring flush was not as buoyant this season, with selling behaviour the major driver.

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