Naracoorte Sheep Market Report

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Report Date: 1st April 2025

Total Yarding: 7,134

Commentary

Only minor changes to supply for an offering of 4749 lambs and 2385 sheep. It was a stronger market over both categories, the best trade and heavy lambs improving by around $10/head. Sheep showed bigger rises as rates for heavier mutton pushed above 500c/kg cwt to match recent market improvements across the industry.

Each agent had a limited run of quality grain assisted lambs before finish and weight quickly tailed-off. The best lambs were well supported, a couple of export weight pens selling to a top of $269/head. The majority of the lead pens were in the 26-30kg cwt band and sold from $214 to $242/head. The better quality processing lambs tracked either side of 800c/kg, with select pens at an estimated 820 to 850c/kg. General run of trade lambs $165 to $205 at 730c to 780c/kg for most. Any Merino lambs with fat cover and some skin value sold well at $159 to $180/head for the tradeweights. Light and small lambs were much dearer in spots with solid store orders operating alongside MK processing activity.

The sheep market was significantly dearer compared to recent Narracoorte sales. One northern based exporter dominated on any ewes that offered frame size and weight. Heaviest crossbred ewes $160 to $190/head, followed by the off the top pens with a bit less weight and fat cover at $130 to $157/head. Merino ewes with wool sold to $188. General run of mixed tradeweight mutton $90 to $130/head. Buyers still pulled back on any very light and seasonally affected sheep at $26 to $80/head.

Market reporter Jenny Kelly