Hamilton Sheep & Lamb Market Report

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Report Date: 19th August 2026

Total Yarding: 3,500

Commentary

Hamilton agents yarded 2,500 lambs up 900 head on last week along with 1,000 sheep, an increase of 300 head. The lamb offering was relatively small with quality ranging from plain to mixed. The better quality lines were mostly supplementary fed and comprised predominantly medium weight trade lambs with only a very limited number of quality lightweight trade lambs available. Not all regular buyers were present and some were less active than usual. The market softened for most trade lambs easing by $10 to $20/head largely due to quality. As a result more lambs returned to the paddock reflecting the mixed quality of the offering. Trade lambs averaged between 950c and 1120c/kg cwt with sales topping at $350/head.

Light lambs weighing 12 to 16kg sold from $95 to $158 while trade lambs in the 18 to 22kg range made $193 to $245/head. Lambs weighing 22 to 26kg sold from $245 to $277 and heavier trade lambs made from $279 to a top of $350/head. Hoggets sold to $212/head.

In a small sheep yarding heavy sheep gained $15 to $20/head while medium and light mutton remained unchanged. Medium and light mutton averaged between 700c and 900c/kg cwt. Crossbred ewes sold to $290 Merino ewes to $220 and crossbred wethers to $265/ head. Terminal rams reached $129 while Merino rams sold to $140head.

Market Reporter: Chris Agnew, MLA.