Grain-finished heavy lambs set a record price at Wagga Wagga, NSW, of $472.20 a head, as the heavy lamb indicator reached its highest point for the year so far at 1097¢/kg, a record high for this particular week of the year. This represented a 44¢/kg rise for the week, the biggest jump of any of the national indicators, and put the heavy lamb price 45% higher than the five-year average. Wagga Wagga had 32% of the national heavy lamb yarding and averaged 1112.50¢/kg, which put the NSW average at 1105¢/kg, while Victorian yards were 1089¢/kg due to very small offerings at all National Livestock Reporting Service reported yards except Ballarat.
Trade lambs picked up 33¢/kg for the week, to land at 1117¢/kg nationally, the Eastern States Trade Lamb Indicator rose 3.6% to 1125¢/kg, putting it 43% higher year-on-year. Victoria yarded less than half the number of trade lambs as NSW, but this time it worked in its favour, as they averaged 1135¢/kg and 1120¢/kg, respectively. Restocker lambs lifted nearly 12¢/kg for the week, despite there being an increase in throughput for this category of nearly 3700 head. Trade lambs were the only after sector to increase in numbers, up less than 1000, while all other indicator throughput was lower week-on-week.
Total lamb yardings were back 6% from last week, and 16% down year-on-year, while sheep yardings held almost firm from the week prior, but were 21% lower than the same time last year. The previous week’s slaughter – the latest data available – had lambs fully firm week-on-week, but still trending 10% lower from 2025, while the sheep kill had fallen nearly 10% for the week, and was 31% behind the same time the previous year.
Despite sheep yardings holding steady, showing producers were turning off regardless of the rain, national mutton indicator eligible stock was back 3000 head, and the national price lifted 14¢/kg to 791¢/kg. AuctionsPlus reported the joined ewe market as a standout after Tuesday’s sheep and lamb sales, with Scanned-In-Lamb Merino ewe averages increasing by $63 to average $328/head, and clearance rates of 95%.
Heavy lambs hot property
Next week
We might see some pushback from buyers next week after this week’s increase, and it will be the mutton price which I would keep an eye on. Despite yardings being firm, slaughter is well down year-on-year, and rain in sheep producing areas this week was much too early to influence many, it could be enough to shorten supply further and encourage some restockers into the buying market.
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Data sources: MLA, Mecardo
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