IN a reduced yarding, Hamilton agents penned 8400 lambs and 2165 sheep at the weekly market on Wednesday.

It was a typical winter offering of mixed quality with all categories showing the effects of the recent cold and wet weather. Not all the regular processors were present nor fully active. Additionally, there was restrictive store competition of lambs suitable for the paddock, quality selection was very evident. The market was erratic as a consequence. The market was very soft for most trade lambs over 20kg by some $10 to $15 per head. Lambs under 20kg lost $5 to $10p/hd. In the sheep market there was an improvement by some $10 to $15p/hd. Top shorn lambs realised $162p/hd with hoggets making a top of $110p/hd.