Griffith Sheep Sale Report

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Report Date: 9th May 2025

Total Yarding: 12,300

Commentary

Lamb numbers dropped back to 6700, while sheep supply continued to be influenced by seasonal conditions and increased to 5600 head. The yarding didn’t have the same impressive weight and quality of a week ago in either the lamb or mutton run. That said there was still a laneway of quality hard-fed export lambs which sold above $300 to a top of $315/head and rates for these in carcass price terms remained similar to last Friday. However once off the best lambs the market had a softer price tone on mixed bred lots, lambs in untidy skins, or lambs which lacked cover. Broadly the result was 800c to 880c/kg for quality neat processing lambs off feed, with plainer heavy lambs and a lot of trade lambs from 750c to 800c/kg cwt. The sheep market was significantly cheaper than a week ago as the mutton market continues to be erratic based around industry supply and the weather.

Heavy export lambs $238 to a top of $315/head, and prices did perform around quality and presentation the best lambs 820c to 880c/kg but the overall result pulled-back by other mixed lambs with weight which sold in the sub 800c/kg range. Pens of well finished heavy lambs, 26-30kg cwt, from $215 to $267/head. Dorper lambs sold to $218 with most of the lead heavy trades from $190 to $210/head, followed by the medium domestic Dorpers at $170 to $190/head. The majority of the trade lambs were estimated below 800c/kg cwt, with only the best finished pens selling at higher rates. A stand line of grainfed export Merino lambs topped at $258/head, with the heavy trade Merinos from $184 to $216/head. Lighter lambs under 20kg mostly $110 to $155/head.

Bidding for sheep dropped away from last week’s strong money, most mutton selling below the 500c/kg threshold this week. Ewes with weight and fat cover still received the best support at $120 to $180/head. Plainer sheep mostly $70 to $110/head.

Market reporter: Jenny Kelly