Griffith Sheep Sale Report

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Report Date: 28th March 2025

Total Yarding: 5,700

Commentary

Notable drop in supply this week down to just 3400 lambs and 2300 sheep. Mutton was the big improver of the sale, prices trending above 500c/kg carcass weight for any heavy sheep including mixed and small penlots. In the lamb yarding it was a case of quality and weight being rewarded, while plainer trade and light lambs met weaker interest from the buying group. The best run of heavy grainfed lambs improved to estimated averages of just over 800c/kg cwt to reach a top of $294/head.

The lead run of heavy export lambs from $254 to $294/head amid strong support from a couple of export buyers, others tending to stand-off the market when it remained firm to dearer. Heavy Dorper lambs sold to $216/head. Competition for lambs under 28kg cwt was a lot more erratic, some pens selling close to last week’s rates and others cheaper. Most of the mixed trade lambs sold under 800c, varying from $163 to $193/head. Merino lambs offering wool rebates were still reasonably well supported, heavy trades to $195/head and lighter trades $150 to $176/head. Smaller and lighter mixed breed lambs mostly $60 to $115/head.

The sheep market showed significant price gains, with heavy mutton from $140 to $180/head consistently across all breeds. The top of the sale was $196 for extra heavy Dorper ewes. Good mutton trended above 500c/kg cwt. Any very plain or lighter sheep were also dearer but did not match the rises of the sheep that had weight and fat cover. Plainer mutton $73 to $120/head.

Market reporter Jenny Kelly