About 11,000 of the lambs were sold by PGG Wrightson Livestock.
Every pen in the yards was used to hold lambs for the sale as buyers competed for the high-quality offering of mainly forward store lambs. Fewer prime lambs were on offer than last year but the prime lambs offered met good demand, selling between $130 and $172 for the heavyweights.
Mid and North Canterbury buyers competed with Otago buyers, who have enjoyed a good growth period during autumn after a dry summer and were looking for good lambs to carry through winter.
The yarding included a large offering of quality half-bred lambs, there being a good number of blackface cross and crossbreds on offer to provide plenty of variety for of buyers.
Top cuts of male half-bred lambs fetched $125 to $133, medium cuts $115 to $124 and lighter lambs $100 to $110.
Vendor S&N Francis sold a large number of half-bred lambs at an average of $126 per head. Greer Farms’ half-breds averaged $124 and CMD Inder’s half-breds averaged $124.
Blackface and crossbreds also sold well, ranging from $100 to $130 for good stores. A few lighter lines sold for between $80 and $95.
