Gallery: Big numbers flood onto Wagga Wagga market

Over 45,000 lambs flooded into the Wagga Wagga yards today. See how prices performed in tough conditions, plus all the best pictures from the sale.

All eyes were on the Wagga Wagga lamb market today, with huge numbers flooding into the yarding as vendors look for openings to offload stock.

A total of 46,250 lambs were in the offering, with 3750 new-season or suckers added to the mix along with 9450 Merino lambs.

It was a test of buying and selling power with vendors from as far afield as Bombala and Cooma on the Monaro trying to sell off numbers and escape deteriorating seasonal conditions.

Wagga Wagga draws in the numbers during a tough market. Prices were up to $15 cheaper but held up well due to competition. pic.twitter.com/vY4UFRZ15b

— nikki (@nikki34158551) August 17, 2023

There were also truckloads of stock from the western regions, including Nyngan, NSW.

Prices buckled under the numbers influx to be $15 cheaper in a depressed market. However, most vendors and livestock agents were surprised by how well values held up.

Nutrien Bombala, NSW livestock agent Pat Cleaver made the trip to Wagga Wagga Livestock Marketing Centre to watch lambs from his area go under the hammer. Pictures: Nikki Reynolds

Vendor Michael Hart of Old Junee, NSW offered some exceptionally well-presented sucker lambs for $145. He said the same lambs made $210 last year.

The lambs, estimated to weigh 26.5kg dressed, were finished on pasture and he was pleased with how they sold in a challenging market.

“Today, the values came back at about what I thought they would,” he said.

In an indication of the numbers still in the paddock and yet to hit the market, Mr Hart said he had another 600 new-season lambs to sell.

Big numbers of lambs go under the hammer at the Wagga Wagga Livestock Marketing Centre.

It was estimated this was the case for many vendors throughout the Riverina and southern NSW, and more lambs were set to enter the selling environment in the coming weeks.

Nutrien livestock agent Pat Cleaver from Bombala, NSW travelled to the sale to watch his client’s lambs sell.

He estimated around 2500 lambs from the Monaro made the journey to Wagga Wagga.

“It’s a tough market, we know that, but they come here because there’s competition, and all of the buyers are operating,” Mr Cleaver said.

Big day at Wagga Livestock Marketing Centre. Total of 46,250 lambs and 3750 new-season lambs. pic.twitter.com/cgCDDFNSTb

— nikki (@nikki34158551) August 16, 2023

Harsh seasonal conditions on the Monaro and concerns about the upcoming spring had vendors from that area on tenterhooks.

“We won’t see any pasture growth in our area until about October.”

Kerry Anderson of Elwood at The Gap, NSW, keeps an eye on the Wagga Wagga lamb market.

Methul, NSW lamb producer Keith Dyason said he plans to sell old-season lambs in the coming weeks.

Like many vendors, he said Wagga Wagga was an ideal indicator market to see how things might play out.

He said there was a substantial drop in prices this year compared to last.

Cam Musgrove of Miarb at The Rock in southern NSW said it was hard to know whether to sell now or to hold onto lambs.

He said he had some second-cross Poll Dorset lambs that he planned to sell in the next few weeks.

Cam Musgrove of Miarb at The Rock is pictured at the Wagga Wagga sheep and lamb market.

Kerry Anderson from Elwood at The Gap, NSW had already decided to sell some of his sucker lambs over the hooks.

Although he was keen to see what was happening at Wagga Wagga as it’s known to set the indicator price across the livestock industry, especially with such big numbers selling.

Keith Dyason of Methul, NSW and Peter Gration pictured at the Wagga Wagga sheep and lamb sale.

Meat and Livestock Australia’s market reporter, Leann Dax, said while all buyers were at the sale, some supermarkets and export purchasers were not buying as much as they had in the past.

She said anything that wasn’t good quality or plainer conditioned experienced a discount.

The team from Nutrien Wagga Wagga take the bids at Wagga Wagga lamb sale.

Young lambs made $125 to $156. Old trade lambs weighing 21 to 26kg returned $117 to $146, averaging 493c/kg. Lightweight lambs ranged from $27 to $75. Merino lambs made $24 to $92.

Heavy export lambs with shorter skins dropped up to $12. Lambs weighing 26kg to 30kg made $117 to $151. Those weighing more than 30kg sold from $137 to $177 to average 473c/kg.

In the mutton category, the market was up to $28 cheaper in places. Heavy crossbred ewes made $68 to $90 and averaged 234/kg. Trade sheep ranged from 198c/kg to 265c/kg.