After some extremely turbulent weeks, the lamb market appears to have stabilised somewhat around the 800-850 cents a kilogram carcase weight mark for new season trade and heavy exports.
Numbers at selling centres varied, with some centres reporting significant declines.
The most affected market was in NSW, with Forbes showing a dramatic drop in new season lamb supplies.
Hikes of up to $10 in the past week in NSW have pushed lamb prices above rates from 12-months ago.
At Wagga Wagga and Griffith markets in NSW, prices were anywhere from $2-$10 dearer, with drafts of trade and heavy sucker lambs offering buyers weight and yield commanding premium price tags.
Top quality drafts of young trade lambs pushed beyond 850c/kg cwt and such prices were not isolated.
The tighter availability of heavy young lambs at most centres lifted rates $10 higher.
Heavy new season lambs consistently made from $215-$262.
The price gap between heavy and light mutton has altered considerably, with the only difference between the categories being a substantial weight variation.
Buyers got more bang for their buck last week when purchasing heavy sheep with prices averaging 600c/kg, while light and medium grades averaged 569c-630c/kg.
Lamb prices in opening markets on Monday lifted by $6-$10 in NSW as rates strengthened, while old lambs slipped $2-$9.
The general run of new season trade lambs averaged 855c/kg, while heavy lambs rested at 811c/kg cwt.
In contrast, the Bendigo lamb sale opened softer.
The National Livestock Reporting Service said prices were a reflection of quality.
Prices for sucker trade lambs slipped $7-$11 to average 790c-811c/kg cwt.
The mixed quality of old lambs didn't help rates, with prices generally $12-$15 cheaper for trade and heavy lambs.
The market for lambs at Ballarat on Tuesday showed a big variance in price trends for all classes, with processors providing little competition for the old trade and heavy lambs.
Neat, well-shaped trade pens topped at $204, slipping $20 to average 781c/kg cwt.
Heavy lambs made from $212-225, averaging 791c/kg cwt.
There was a mixed selection of mutton offered and overall the market was unchanged for well-bred drafts selling at $97-$168.