Wednesday 03 October 2012
Australia
The lamb market
WA’s southern Agricultural districts recorded further wide spread light rainfall this week, although again rainfall recordings for the winter and spring growing seasons remained well below average. Feed levels across the southern regions have continued to rise as temperatures and daylight hours have both increased coupled with the added moisture levels.
Supply remains tight
Physical market numbers were again very limited with both markets accounting for only 16,500 head, with this number historically low for this time of year. The tight market conditions experienced in physical markets continue to dissuade producers to use saleyards and consequently processors continue to report very strong numbers going direct to works.
Physical markets contained a lower supply of ewe mutton with new season lamb volumes also remaining very conservative compared to what would normally be seen at this time of year. Ewe hogget supplies increased due to larger volumes seen at the Great Southern sale, while wether volumes remain very tight. New season lamb quality and weight continued to be very mixed. There were however reasonable supplies of both trade and heavy weight lambs yarded.
Demand slides
Trade demand although similar remained conservative and confined to local processor orders. Ewe mutton demand at both markets continued to slide with slightly lower prices recorded comparative to the previous week. Restocker demand remained conservative and selective in ewe mutton categories. There continues to be an absence of live export orders in both the wether and ram markets and consequently restockers and export feeders were again able to purchase finished drafts of wethers at lower levels. Younger rams were purchased by export feeders, while mature slaughter grades remained hard to sell and again recorded heavy discounts.
Source: Argentine Beef Packers S.A.
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