Wagga Wagga saleyards selling 80,000 sheep and lambs today

Wagga Wagga originally had more than 100,000 sheep and lambs booked in for today’s sale but the 80,000 that turned up still set records.

One of the biggest ever offerings of sheep and lambs in a single saleyard has seen more than 80,000 yarded at Wagga Wagga today.

And while it’s a big leap from the usual spring numbers, there is talk that this might not be a one-off and the big sales could go on for weeks.

The combined offering of sheep and lambs – with 80,650 counted and yarded – was thought to be one of the biggest the centre had ever recorded but the number of lambs was the record breaking statistic.

Wagga Wagga saleyards manager Paul Martin said today’s lamb yarding was believed to be a record with about 64,000, though final numbers were yet to come through.

“We have had some big yardings recently and originally agents drew for more than 100,000 sheep and lambs but numbers came back,” Mr Martin said.

The Wagga Wagga saleyards draw which originally had more than 100,000 sheep and lambs.

“We rang around the agents yesterday to firm up numbers and some producers pulled stock out but we still ended up with a huge offering.”

Last week, the centre yarded 67,000 lambs and sheep, and the dearer market was thought to attract numbers.

Agents were expected to sell the more than 60,000 lambs within four hours, and allowing for a two hour break, would then back up and sell 16,000 sheep at 2pm.

Mr Martin said Wagga Wagga was used to selling big numbers and had expanded its operation over the past few years to cope with big offerings.

He said the Wagga Wagga saleyards was probably getting more lambs for logistical reasons due to flooding.

“Anyone south of the Lachlan River would be probably trying to send their lambs to Wagga now due to issues of flooding around Forbes (NSW),” Mr Martin said.

“This is always a time of year for bigger numbers but perhaps this could be a sign of things to come for the next few weeks.”