IT WAS a case of another week, another record broken as heavy lambs sold to $300 at the Dublin market this morning.
The pen of 76 Merino-White Suffolk, June-drop lambs were offered by Bruce Daniel, Paskeville, bought by Thomas Foods International.
The lambs, which were an estimated 32 kilograms dressedweight, were bought in November and placed in a feedlot.
This broke the state record set last week at Naracoorte of $295.50, for 127 second-cross lambs from Peter and Ruth Gericke, Hynam.
The top price at Naracoorte today was $280, achieved for 12 first-cross heavy lambs.
Earlier in the market a new Dublin saleyards record was set - although broken within short period - with 80 Merino lambs from Dennis Pratt, Mallala, sold for $277.
These May/June-drop lambs were bought from October to November last year and paddock fed on crop stubble.
This was the third time Mr Pratt had sold lambs in recent weeks, having previously received prices of $230 and $250.
In turn, this $277 price eclipsed last week's top price, and previous saleyards record of $274.
This follows several weeks of climbing record prices, with a previous record of $258 achieved for lambs just three weeks ago.
Agent Budgie Schiller said prices had "gone crazy" in recent weeks.
"That $300 is certainly the highest price I've seen in all my 60 years," he said.
"I think it will probably go a bit further yet."
He said the top price was paid for a pen of "exceptional lambs" from someone who regularly achieved good prices.
Mr Schiller said mutton prices had also spiked, with ewes sold for $250.
"I don't know what's going to happen with restockers - they could make silly money," he said.
He said small numbers were driving demand high with limited supply.
"We used to have 30,000 sheep and lambs in and moved to a two-day sale, but now we might have 8000-9000 odd numbers for sheep and lambs," he said.
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