Mutton maintains, lamb lags

Despite a more than 40,000 head increase in throughput numbers, the National Mutton Indicator just held on this week, increasing by 20 or so cents from last week to finish at 281¢/kg. This represents a 70¢/kg rise from where it bottomed out 10 days ago, and its lowest point of 2024 so far. It’s currently operating at a 60¢/kg discount from the same time last year. Hamilton, Victoria, and Wagga Wagga, NSW, had the two biggest yardings of mutton and both operated at well below the price average of the NMI. In contrast, Forbes, NSW, had the third-largest yarding and averaged nearly a whole $1/kg above the average price. According to the National Livestock Reporting Service, numbers of all categories of mutton increased at Forbes, but good quality and strong competition had prices jump $15-$20/head.

Lamb prices remained lacklustre, continuing the gradual decline they’ve been experiencing since the end of January. The National Trade Lamb Indicator was averaging 615¢/kg today, having lost 88¢/kg for the week. The Eastern States Trade Lamb Indicator isn’t trading much better, at 618¢/kg, which is about 150¢/kg lower than the same time last year. It is, however, still a $2/kg improvement on where the ESTLI sat back in September. Ballarat, Victoria, yarded the most lambs this week and averaged a 5¢/kg premium to the average, but Wagga Wagga and Hamilton yarded almost as many, and both traded at a discount. Forbes had more than 6% of the ESTLI throughput and again bucked the trend, with prices well above the average at 666¢/kg.

Heavy lambs have lost $1/kg since January, continuing to dip this week, and now sit at the largest discount to year-ago levels of all the lamb indicators. At 617¢/kg, it is now back in line with the ESTLI, having spent much of the past six months trading at a premium to it. Wagga Wagga made up a big majority – 42% – of the heavy lamb indicator eligible stock, and averaged just 580¢/kg, and was the primary yarding dragging prices back. Light lamb prices fell 33¢/kg to 527¢/kg, while Merino lambs lost 35¢/kg to land at 502¢/kg. These two categories were the only ones that had less throughput week-on-week.

Total sheep and lamb slaughter fell by more than 50,000 head last week, after the previous week reached historical highs, but remained nearly that many – or about 9% – above the same week in 2023. Breaking that down, lamb slaughter was about 73,000 head, or 20%, higher year-on-year, while sheep slaughter reflected the corresponding week’s lower yardings, falling more than 30,000 head for the week and sitting nearly 14% lower than the same time last year.