Bendigo Sheep Report

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Report Date: 17th August 2026

Total Yarding: 16,030

Commentary

Numbers increased to 11,600 lambs, boosted by 4500 new season young lambs from Australian Food Agriculture off their Riverina stations Boonoke and Barrrata. The mood from the buying group today was dull with not all orders active. Competition tended to be erratic for price results which were similar to cheaper. Rates for new season lambs did wind-back from the high outcomes of a week ago which was based on limited numbers. There was 4400 sheep yarded and a lot of weight continues to be evident on old cull ewes, and the mutton market was cheaper.

The lead pens of trade to heavy trade new season lambs from $275 to a top of $322/head to processors to be in the 1100c/kg price range. The run of young lambs off Boonoke and Baratta Stations sold from $250 to a top of $278/head for pens to processors, with restockers then purchasing the balance at $208 to $246/head. The overall average for the entire Boonoke and Barrata draft was $236/head.

Old lamb quality was mixed with heavy export lambs from $330 to a top of $380/head, some of the rougher long-woolled types estimated under 1000c/kg cwt. The majority of the old season crossbred lambs were estimated between 1050c to 1150c/kg cwt. In dollars heavier types $280 to $340/head; mixed trades $230 to $275/head. Best fed Merino lambs to $340 with a lot of plainer Merinos from $200 to $260/head to be starting with $9 and $10kg cwt price tags.

Weight continues to dominate the sheep offering. Some extra heavy ewes did sell to $300/head but exporters seemed reluctant to go this high even on super-sized ewes. Most heavy sheep $230 to $285/head and limited lighter lines from about $160 to $200/head. Lot of mutton was estimated in the range of 720c to 820c/kg cwt.

Market reporter: Jenny Kelly