Meat and Livestock Australia reports that these lighter categories were again well represented in the yarding, due to the poor and deteriorating season through southern NSW and much of Victoria.

MLA says the lack of widespread spring rains is also causing high yardings of mutton sheep, with prices falling significantly.

However, restocker demand from areas with rain and the falling Aussie dollar are helping to hold prices at levels double the same time last year.

In contrast, MLA says trade and heavy lambs are holding well for this time of the year (40pc higher than last year), as they are still in short supply, and demand has strengthened with the fall in the A$.

Cattle markets were mixed this week, with only patchy evidence of seasonal price falls, normal for early summer.

High yardings of heavy mature steers saw significant falls in prices for Japan ox, led by both saleyard and OTH quotes in NSW.

In contrast, cow prices were generally firm, as the weakening in global manufacturing markets has been offset by a falling A$.

Young cattle values were also mixed, with the EYCI up 3¢/kg cwt and feeders up 2¢/kg lwt, but the trade cattle indicator down 3¢/kg cwt.