NATIONAL average saleyard prices for lamb fell by another 5pc on trade and heavy lambs this week, according to the Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) weekly livestock markets' round-up released on Friday afternoon.
Prices fell by around 10pc on light and restocker lambs, while over-the-hook lamb prices fell by 3-4pc.
These price falls came despite a 13pc decline in yardings, to 10pc below equivalent yardings this time last year.
While some buyers may be holding out for new season lambs, this year’s flush of new season's lambs is not likely to start in earnest before early September.
The rising $A, MLA says, is likely to be behind some of the falls seen in export livestock prices in recent weeks.
These including the relatively small price falls for Japan ox, export cow prices and sheep prices this week.
CATTLE:
A lift in cattle yardings in NSW saw price falls in that state across all categories, except feeders.
Young cattle categories are still holding well, however, with the feature being some recovery in demand for feeder steers – with increased feeding for the domestic market encouraged by lower grain prices.
The EYCI held at 345¢/kg cwt this week, while the national average trade steer price rose 6¢/kg, to 348¢/kg cwt.
Australia’s key export beef markets of Japan, the US and Korea remain flat.
In contrast, some of the second tier beef exports markets are going strong, notably Indonesia, Taiwan and China/Hong Kong.
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