Sheep numbers came back to 4078 head sold at Hamilton, 6540 less than the previous week. Quality was a mix of all weights and grades and there was a decrease in the average weight across the yarding, as more pens of 1 score sheep were offered with the conditions in the district remaining dry. There were at least 2 less buyers in the buying gallery, with some not operating fully in an overall weaker market. Very light sheep sold $5 to $13 cheaper, as light weight 1 and 2 scores were $2 to $10 easier and the medium to heavy weight sheep were primarily $5 to $10/head cheaper on last week’s sale.

There was limited local restocker interest, but they purchased Merino ewes from $106 to $110/head. The very light 1 score sheep made from $10 to $48, averaging close to 230c, as light weight 1 and 2 scores sold from $40 to $75/head average from 320c to 360c/kg cwt.

Medium weight sheep of 2 and 3 scores received from $73 to $92/head, as the Merino ewe mutton averaged 403c and the crossbred ewe mutton made 370c/kg cwt. Heavy crossbred 3 and 4 score ewes sold from $94 to $140 to average close to 390c and the heavy 3 score Merino ewes made from $108 to $116/head as they averaged close to 420c/kg cwt.

Medium 2 score Merino wethers made from $94 to $118, with the heavy Merino wethers making from $116 to $130/head averaging an estimated 430c/kg cwt. Heavy crossbred wethers sold from $125 to $140 and the rams of all breeds made $5 to $48/head.

J.M. ELLIS & CO PTY LTD

XB Ewes: Waratah Past. Co., Cavendish, $125; J. S. & E. M. Staude, Balmoral, $120; J. & H. Jenkinson, Glenthompson, $105; J. S. & E. M. Staude, Balmoral, $102;

Merino Ewes: J. S. & E. M. Staude, Balmoral, $116; Peter Gubbins, Caramut, $82;

Merino Wethers: I. & B. Uebergang, Tarrington, $130; J. S. & E. M. Staude, Balmoral, $128; I. & B. Uebergang, Tarrington, $120; J. S. & E. M. Staude, Balmoral, $118;

Merino Rams: Simon Linke, Croxton, $42;

XB Ram: Waratah Past. Co., Cavendish, $20;

LANDMARK 

XB Ewes: Cashmore Park, Cashmore, $97. R.G. Kelly, Bessiebelle, $95. P.R. & M.A. Gristede, Timboon, $88.

Dohne Ewes: M. Rogerson, Glenthompson, $109.

ELDERS RURAL SERVICES 

XB Ewes: Lanark Pty Ltd, Branxholme, $135; SP Millard, Branxholme, $115; G Densley, Hawkesdale, $113; LR & JM Hayes, Penshurst, $103; F Pye, Macarthur, $103; C Burger, Hamilton, $98, Lanark Pty Ltd, Branxholme, $89; Lanark Pty Ltd, Branxholme, $82; F Pye, Macarthur, $73; G Densley, Hawkesdale, $73;

XB Wths: SP Millard, Branxholme, $140; F Pye, Macarthur, $125;

MO Wths: S & H Waters, Coojar, $120;

Rams: Lanark Pty Ltd, Branxholme, $35; G Densley, Hawkesdale, $35;

KEITH P LANYON P/L

X/B Ewes- W & H. Shalders, Willatook, $73; L & S. Cunningham, Hensley Park, $73

SOUTHERN GRAMPIANS LIVESTOCK 

XB Ewes: Warooka Pastoral, Gatum, $130; Warooka Pastoral, $115; Warooka Pastoral, Gatum, $96

KERR & CO LIVESTOCK PTY LTD 

X/B Ewes: S&Y McRae, Woolsthorpe $108; S&Y McRae, Woolsthorpe $90.

X/B Wethers: A&L Forsythe, Byaduk $130; N Saunders, Hamilton $123.

Merino Wethers: H Barker, Glenthompson $116; H Barker, Glenthompson $116.

L.M.B. LIVESTOCK

XB Ewes: Bellco, Wallacedale, $140; A Kearney & M McLeish, Bulart, $120; Bellco, Wallacedale, $103

Merino Ewes: Lake Repose P/ship, Glenthompson, $108; A Kearney & M McLeish, Bulart, $106; Lake Repose P/ship, Glenthompson, $88; A Kearney & M McLeish, Bulart, $75

Merino Wethers: A Kearney & M McLeish, Bulart, $128

March 6. Yarding 7722. Change: down 3287.

There was a reduction in lamb supply at Hamilton, with 7722 sold, representing a decrease of 3287 head. Quality was mixed from mostly average to good. The lambs offered varied from finished heavy weights down to pens of unfinished and lighter lambs. The usual buyers attended, with most operating combined with restocker and feeder interest, which created some extra competition at times. The prices on the different weights and categories varied as light lambs sold firm to $3/head dearer. Light trade weights were firm, as the good quality medium trade weight lambs sold $2 to $5/head dearer to improved demand. The heavy lambs weighing 25-26kg sold unchanged to slightly $1 easier and the heavy export lambs were $3 to $8/head cheaper. The restockers and feeders purchased lambs primarily from $114 to $139, with lighter pens making from $38 to $86/head. Light weight 2 score lambs weighing 13-16kg to the processors, making from $82 to $110/head averaged close to 660c/kg cwt. Light 2 and 3 score trade weights, weighing 17-18kg, sold from $116 to $128, averaging an estimated 700c, and the 19-20kg lambs sold from $124 to $138/head as they averaged 687c/kg cwt. The medium trade weight 3 score lambs, weighing 21-22kg, made from $136 to $153/head. Heavier 3 and 4 score trade weights, weighing 23-24kg, sold from $152 to $168/head, as they were estimated to average from 660c and 670c/kg cwt. Heavy lambs, weighing 25-26kg, made from $162 to $171/head to average 645c/kg cwt.

The limited selection of extra heavy lambs made from $172 to the market top of $190/head as the average costs varied from 570c to 610c/kg cwt. The good quality hoggets sold from $79 to $120/head.

J.M. ELLIS & CO PTY LTD

Shorn XB Lambs: Croxton Past. Co., Croxton East, $172; Hillcrest, Buckley Swamp, $172; Henry Bensch, Croxton East, $168; F. M. McMeel, Buckley Swamp, $166; Jigsaw Farms, Hensley Park, $159; J. Bensch, Penshurst, $156; R. J. & K. J. Sharrock, Tahara, $152; Jigsaw Farms, Hensley Park, $145; D. & G. Gleeson, Branxholme, ,$138; P. J. & F. M. Elsom, Gazette, $138; Bimbadeen Partnership, Macarthur, $135; J. & A. Elsom, Gazette, $134; Hodge & Heald, Nareen $132; P. J. & F. M. Elsom, Gazette, $127; J. & A. Elsom, Gazette, $126; Bimbadeen, Partnership, Macarthur, $124; D. & G. Gleeson, Branxholme, $123; Parc Farms, North Byaduk, $123; D. A. & C. M. Jeal, Condah, $118;

LANDMARK 

XB Lambs: C & T Crawford, Cavendish, $154. R Harvey, Casterton, $148. R Harvey, Casterton, $148. N Malseed, Bolwarra, $138. TJ Hallett, Portland West, $133. TJ Hallett, Portland West, $128. N Malseed, Bolwarra, $121.

Dorper Lambs: M Hirst, Merino, $80.

ELDERS RURAL SERVICES 

XB Lambs : HE & MF Jarrett, Orford, $186; HE & MF Jarrett, Orford, $174; Aringa West Pastoral, Port Fairy, $157; AD & RL Gawne, Wangoom, $156; J & ML & JM Skubnik, Willaura, $156; NG & HL Richardson, Hawkesdale, $145; Aringa West Pastoral, Port Fairy, $139; ; J & ML & JM Skubnik, Willaura, $125; Roanaoke Family Trust, Glenthompson, $124; AH & DJ Rout, Hamilton, $124; Roanaoke Family Trust, Glenthompson, $94; Roanaoke Family Trust, Glenthompson, $91

Merino Ram Lambs: Yama Trust, Mooracca, $92

2 Tooth: Roanaoke Family Trust, Glenthompson, $110; A Beavis, Heywood, $86

KEITH P LANYON P/L

X/B Lambs- N & S. Kruger, Tabor, $178; N & S. Kruger, Tabor, $177; Glendell, Croxton East, $171; N & S. Kruger, Tabor, $168; Glendell, Croxton East, $164; N & S. Kruger, Tabor, $160; T. Rowe, Portland, $148; A. McFarlane, Yulecart, $146; J. Clare, Tarrington, $142; T. Rowe, Portland, $136

SOUTHERN GRAMPIANS LIVESTOCK 

XB Shorn Lambs: Est Jb Christie, Byaduk, $164; C & B Langley, Coleraine, $148; C & B Langley, Coleraine, $134; J Sypott, Coleraine, $132; C & B Langley, Coleraine, $118.

KERR & CO LIVESTOCK PTY LTD

Lambs: S Carter, Buckley Swamp $183; R E Crowe, Codrington $175/$169; McRae Trading Trust, Woolsthorpe $168; S Carter, Buckley Swamp $168; Moyne Falls, Macarthur $166; R & T Sinnott, Yambuk $163; Moyne Falls, Macarthur $162; DEPJTR, Mt Napier $161; McRae Trading Trust, Woolsthorpe $160; T Peters, Tyrendarra $157; Kinnealy, Penshurst $155; M & S Alderman, Dunkeld $153; Moyne Falls, Macarthur $153; McRae Trading Trust, Woolsthorpe $150; R E Crowe, Codrington $148; DEPJTR, Mt Napier $144; Kinnealy, Penshurst $140; LE & ML Lloyd, Warrong $140; Vinebanks Past, Broadwater $138; R E Crowe, Codrington $137; LE & ML Lloyd, Warrong $135; G & J Hornell, Hamilton $134; M & S Alderman, Dunkeld $133; B Caldwell, Heywood $132; Vinebanks, Macarthur $132; Chrome Rural, Hamilton $132

L.M.B. LIVESTOCK

XB Lambs: Camp Creek P/ship, Byaduk, $190; Camp Creek P/ship, Byaduk, $176; P, J & A Heazlewood, Penshurst, $174; J & C Luhrs, Mooralla, $166; P, J & A Heazlewood, Penshurst, $166; Back Creek P/ship, Dunkeld, $162; J & C Luhrs, Mooralla, $150; Back Creek P/ship, Dunkeld, $149; R & J Cowland, Macarthur, $146; J & S Austin, Tarrington, $145; A & Y Astbury, Dergholm, $136; P & P Cameron, Dunkeld, $130; D & C Linke, Dunkeld, $128