The spring lamb yarding had a large increase at yesterday's Feilding Prime Stock Sale, with annual lines from early lambers being offered.
This was countered with a halving in the hogget entry, which resulted in over 1000 fewer sheep being offered, a trend which should continue for now.
Spring lamb sale prices were flat at best but generally eased in line with current and predicted schedule movements.
The best of the lambs were top lambs to be proud of and heavier than any sold previously this season. Ray and Annette Moss sold their top cut of 29 for $129.50 and Santon Farm sold 82 for $127.
Some of the lighter lambs almost looked worthwhile but many buyers are afraid to move.
Hogget prices declined further than last week. The "bale out" button has been pressed and the main hogget buyers know that so are riding the sale prices down. Jessie and Hana Harding had their annual draft of their pet hoggets and sold 3 for $141.50 but even the prices for the medium, preferred weight range hoggets eased as they have done for the past fortnight.
Finishing hoggets has not always been easy this year but many of these have been farmed for nothing for a fortnight at least.
A few more ewes were offered and they were roughly steady with regard to sale prices. Most were medium ewes that have had or reared a lamb and many did have some farming on potential.
At least we had a cattle sale this week. Numbers were not great but there were some useful beef cows for the buyers and they sold up to $1249 ($2.37) for 3 good Angus cows.
The heifers and steers were lighter types and sold at slightly easier levels. Three of the steers were in fact rigs and were store types.
Sheep (4712): lambs (761), 28-46 kg, $88-$129.50, $2.70-$3.20, ease; hoggets (2,308); prime (2227), 41-65 kg, $103-$141.50, $2.20-$2.50, ease; store (81), 33-40 kg, $70-$100, $2.10-$2.80; ewes (1833); good, heavy, 26-30 kg, $80-$99.50, $3.10-$3.30, steady; medium, 21-25 kg, $60-$82, $2.90-$3.30, steady; lighter, 16-20 kg, $42.50-$59, $2.70-$3.00, steady; 2ths (34), $50-$69; male sheep (46), $50-$61.
Cattle (68): steers (6); 287-550 kg, $645-$1512, $2.25-$2.75; heifers (10); 390-473 kg, $979-$1230, $2.51-$2.60; lesser sorts, 290-360 kg, $440-$529, $1.47-$1.52; cows (52); good, heavy, 527-725 kg, $1063-$1450, $1.96-$2.37; boners, 410-561 kg, $651-$970, $1.55-$1.79; lesser sorts, 510 kg, $739, $1.45.
Feilding Calf Sale
Only 30 calves were offered yesterday, with only a small bench of buyers operating. It is becoming late in the season and milk powder is still not easy to obtain.
Bulls: Friesian; good, $105; medium, $40; W/F; good, $150-$205; medium, $100-$130; Angus/Friesian; good, $140-$180.
Heifers: W/F; good, $120-$150.