Hamilton Sheep Market Report

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Report Date: 14th January 2026

Total Yarding: 13,000

Commentary

Lamb numbers dropped back to 14,088 head, and agents and producers are focused on the big run of weaner calf sales at Hamilton this week. There was a handy lead of heavy lambs in each agents run before supply was dominated by trade and lighter types, with a lot of feeder and store lambs under 20kg cwt on offer. Still not a lot of energy being shown by the buying group, and not all export processors were in attendance. Interest in heavy lambs above 28kg cwt remained subdued, although agents rated the sale as being better than a week ago. Once onto trade lambs buyer competition did show more enthusiasm with a couple of top end domestic orders competing for neat types. The strength of the sale was on lighter lambs under 20kg cwt with feeder and store orders still very keen, and these lighter lambs sold well in comparison to the money being paid for the heavier slaughter lambs.

Heaviest shorn lambs $286 to a top of $328, with the lead pens of woolly lambs from $280 to a market top of $342/head. On a carcass basis the heavier categories of lambs above 26kg cwt tracked 20c either side of $10kg cwt. Heavy trade lambs $247 to $287/head, with the majority estimated between $10 to $10.70c/kg cwt and occasional pens of very neat shaped Southown type lambs up around $11/kg cwt. The main run of 22-24kg cwt woolly trade lambs averaged a ballpark 1045c/kg cwt to processors at $246/head.

Lighter weight lambs under 20kg cwt were the strongest segment of the market, with feeders, MK processors and store buyers all active. A lot of light lambs sold between $170 to $230/head and trended above $11kg on a carcass equivalent basis. Smallest and plainest store lambs $122 to $150/head.

Market reporter: Jenny Kelly