Deniliquin sheep sale report:

Quality was mixed across the yarding, with only a small lead of handy grainfed lambs in each agent's run.

There were a lot of smaller penlots as the final drafts from last year’s lambing were sold.

Price results were similar for the better presented crossbred lambs, which trended either side of 800c/kg carcase weight (cwt).

There was a better line-up of Merino lambs, and outcomes for the trades with reasonable fat cover were stronger.

Some of the secondary lighter lambs showed a softer result.

Lines of heavy crossbred lambs sold from $205 to $249/head for an overall result of around 805c/kg cwt.

There were some heavy lambs in pens of less than 10 head, which affected price outcomes at times.

Reasonable trade lambs sold from $174 to a top of $206, and this price range captured most of the lead Dorper pens.

Merino lambs sold to $204 with the medium trades mostly at $168 to $186 head, at estimates of 720c to 760c/kg.

Plainer and smaller Merinos sold from $62 to $104/head.

There were some bright spots in the sale for the neatest MK processing lambs with shape and some fat cover, at $140 to $165/head.

Secondary and clean-up lots of light lambs made from $30 to $80/head.

The sheep market was dearer as the fortnightly Deniliquin sale caught up to the rise in mutton values.

Heavy meat ewes sold to $184, Dorpers to $174.60 and Merinos to $170/head.

Off the top heavy and trade ewes sold mostly for between $122 and $150/head.

Lighter mutton were mostly $70 to $120/head.

Most sheep were estimated in a range of 430c/kg to 530c/kg cwt.

Total sales for the day amounted to $1,042,791, for a sale average of $150.25.

Top sales:

Lambs - JA & D Preston Holdings, $249 and $246; MG & M Filmer, $245.

Sheep - Fitzpatrick Pty Ltd, $184; Summit Farms, $184; H Hills, $184; Gulpa Farming, $174.60.

~ Details provided by Meat & Livestock Australia market reporter Jenny Kelly and Deniliquin Saleyards manager Greg White, on behalf of the Deniliquin Associated Agents.