THE trans-Australian movement of livestock has ground to a halt.
Strong live exports and a shortage of numbers have rewarded Western Australian producers with lamb prices above 600c/kg carcass weight for months.
And it has priced the WA lambs out of the market for eastern states processors, who can buy lambs up to $1.50/kg carcass weight cheaper in local markets.
From October last year until May, lambs were being bought in WA and transported across the Nullabor to abattoirs in the eastern states.
Traditionally, WA lambs sell at a major discount to those in the eastern states.
But WA lamb prices have held on, meaning it is now much cheaper for processors to buy locally.
Last week, WA held the mantle for the dearest lambs in the nation, with the National Livestock Reporting Service quoting carcass weight prices at 672c/kg for light lambs, 660c/kg for trade lambs and 650c/kg for Merino lambs.
This contrasts to Victorian carcass weight rates of 488c/kg for light lambs, 504c/kg for trade lambs and 447c/kg for Merino lambs - discounts of up to 200c/kg.
NLRS livestock market analyst Josh Anderson said competition by WA processors was strong.
"There have been reports of strong competition among processors, the ones that are operating, as yardings continue to fall," Mr Anderson said.
"As opposed to the east, where we're seeing good supply, WA has considerably less available for slaughter or export."
Mr Anderson said the live trade was also playing its part.
"Reports indicate that export competition is strong with buyers keen to secure the limited number of good quality lambs suitable for live export," he said.
Landmark WA commercial sheep manager Steve Forrest said numbers of all types of lambs had dwindled across that state.
It meant those producers who had lambs to sell were now being well paid.
"Our prices went up like those in the eastern states in February, but they just haven't come down again," Mr Forrest said.
"Processors have had to keep the price reasonable to get the lambs."
Mr Forrest said the live export trade played a major role in WA lamb prices for certain types of lambs only.
"The export trade plays a major role for the lighter lambs and Merinos," he said.
To qualify, lambs must be at least 36kg liveweight. These sell at $105-$115 direct to WA exporters. But Mr Forrest said exporters had paid up to $125 to buy suitable wethers out of the saleyards.
