Bendigo Sheep Report

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Report Date: 30th March 2026

Total Yarding: 13,020

Commentary

Numbers reduced ahead of the Easter holiday break with just 10,800 lambs and 2050 sheep and hoggets. Trade lambs were the feature of the sale, with price averages improving by $10 to $12/head amid very strong demand for neat pens in the 22-26kg cwt range. It was a very limited line-up of heavy export lambs and a plainer run than recent weeks for a price result that was similar to just slightly better. Merino lambs were well supported across the sale and averaged dearer, the best of the fed trade weights estimated above 1100c/kg cwt but subject to skin values with some buyers reporting very good pelt returns. The mixed run of lighter weight lambs under 20kg cwt fluctuated from firm to dearer depending on quality and number in a pen. The sheep market had a dearer tone to it on limited numbers.

Heavy export lambs from $340 to a top of $385/head. The strongest bidding was for trade-lambs, the neatest pens estimated above 1200c/kg for estimated averages of 1180c to 1190c/kg cwt over the main categories. In dollars it meant a lot more of the heavy trades sat up around the $300/head mark, the 24-26kg crossbreds selling to $318 to average $300/head; the 22-24kg $264 to $297 to average $280/head. Fed Merino lambs $264 to a top of $308/head; lighter and leaner MK style Merino lambs $190 to $230/head for most. Restockers were active on some of the bigger lines of light Merino lambs. Feeders and store buyers continued to pay from $170 to $265/head for lambs to feed-on, and there wasn’t a lot of suitable stock in this yarding.

Only 2000 sheep and mutton was firm to dearer, a lot more sheep estimated over 800c /kg cwt in this sale. Big crossbred ewes sold to $326; woolly Merino ewes to $296 and some very big Dorpers to $325/head. Decent sheep with frame and some fat cover mostly $190 to $250/head; lighter sheep $124 to $164 and plain mutton was no dearer to recent sales.

Market reporter: Jenny Kelly for MLA