FIVE pens of lambs soared to record prices at Bendigo Livestock Exchange on Monday as markets across Australia reach new highs.
A Victorian record of $426 was paid for a pen from a Swan Hill feedlot. It was one of five pens to smash through the $400 price and all sold by stock agents McKean McGregor.
Two the pens were from Bridgewater district farmers. Stock agent Will Holt said Lachlan Wilson and Brent and Peter Rothacker fetched the high prices for their crossbred lambs.
He said mutton prices topped $300 at Bendigo “and that’s something rarely seen.”
The market surge was greatest last week in New South when a new national heavy lamb record of $424.20 was set at Wagga Wagga last Thursday and then broken twice on Friday at Griffith with $430 and $431 pens.
Meat and Livestock Australia said National lamb prices were record high levels. 
The National Light Lamb Indicator (924¢/kg cwt), National Trade Lamb Indicator (1,049¢/kg cwt) and National Heavy Lamb Indicator (1,041¢/kg cwt) have all surged as winter’s traditional supply tightens. 
Light lamb prices have particularly strengthened due to demand for available finished stock.