Bendigo lamb prices hit by Cedar Meats closure
Cedar Meats has been one of the most active buyers of export lambs and sheep recently, and its absence on Monday affected sales.
THE sudden closure of Cedar Meats due to a COVID-19 outbreak is the latest hurdle to hit the lamb market and have sent prices on an unexpected downward trend heading into winter.
Lamb prices at Bendigo on Monday were quoted $10-$15 a head cheaper, following on from similar falls late last week at the Horsham, Ouyen and Swan Hill saleyards.
Among the issues confronting the industry are disrupted meat sales from the COVID-19 pandemic, reduced kill schedules at abattoirs, and big numbers of lambs forward sold by farmers as they became spooked by market uncertainty.
Cedar Meats had been one of the most active buyers of export lambs and sheep in the auction system in recent weeks, and its absence did have an impact at sales on Monday.
It was particularly evident on sheep at Bendigo where it had been the major competitor against Fletchers of Dubbo on heavy mutton. It was reported that auctioneers asked for $250 for the opening pen of ewes, but with Cedar absent were offered $190.
FP Nevins & Co Bendigo agent Chris Nevins said the closure of Cedar Meats was another hit for a market struggling to find momentum despite the good season and low lamb and sheep numbers.
“Not having Cedar doesn’t help, but overall none of the buyers seemed really interested today,’’ he said after the Bendigo sale.
“They (abattoirs) all seem filled up with contracted lambs and it doesn’t look like we are going to get much of a winter price peak.’’
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