Sheep Market Summary – 21 April 2026

by | Apr 22, 2026 | Feedlots, Processing, Sheep

Previous Close Sheep Markets Summary

Sheep and lamb markets showed mixed to softer trends nationally, with reduced supply and variable quality creating uneven price outcomes—while strong demand supported quality lambs, secondary categories and mutton faced pressure. The trends appear to be:

  • Supply declined across most regions, particularly lambs
  • Quality lambs attracted strong demand, especially heavy and trade weights
  • Lighter and secondary lambs remained under pressure
  • Mutton mixed, with softer trends in many centres
  • Market variable, with quality and buyer competition key drivers

 

East Coast (NSW, VIC)

  • Mixed market overall, with clear divergence between quality and secondary stock
  • NSW results were mixed:
    • Deniliquin (3,100 lambs / 1,200 sheep) saw strong prices for quality heavy and trade lambs, while lighter lambs and sheep were softer
    • Forbes (31,850 lambs / 10,150 sheep) recorded a cheaper lamb market due to reduced quality, despite strong store demand, while mutton held steady
    • Inverell (3,688 lambs / 2,810 sheep) saw mixed lamb results with stronger store and trade demand, while grown sheep prices eased
  • VIC (Ballarat) saw:
    • Reduced lamb numbers with steady sheep supply
    • Mixed market conditions, reflecting broader softer trends in lamb prices

Summary: Reduced supply is supporting quality lambs in some centres, but softer demand and quality issues are weighing on secondary lambs and mutton markets

 

South Australia

  • Dublin (7,000 lambs / 1,500 sheep) saw:
    • Mixed results with firm store demand
    • Softer trade lamb and heavy mutton prices
  • Naracoorte (3,012 lambs / 673 sheep) saw:
    • Generally easier prices overall
    • Heavier lambs maintained stronger demand and higher top-end returns

Summary: Mixed market, with stronger demand for heavy lambs but softer overall pricing trends

Tasmania

  • Powranna (1,686 lambs / 2,012 sheep) saw:
    • Recovery in prime lamb prices
    • Light lambs steady
    • Mixed mutton trends with softer extra heavy sheep

Summary: Improving prime lamb market with mixed mutton results

Western Australia

  • Muchea (9,000 lambs / 4,706 sheep) saw:
    • Firm lamb prices under strong buyer competition
      Heavy lambs and mutton eased slightly
  • Naracoorte (3,012 lambs / 673 sheep) saw:
    • Generally easier prices overall
    • Heavier lambs maintained stronger demand and higher top-end returns

Summary: Generally firm market, with slight pressure on heavier categories

👉 See full sale reports and videos below 

 

 

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Sheep yardings & reports

Queensland
  • No Reports
New South Wales
  • IRLX Inverell sheep report (MLA): Yarding: 6,498, (+2,253).Larger yarding delivered mixed lamb results with stronger store and trade demand, while grown sheep prices eased across all categories. Full report available here.
  • Forbes sheep report (MLA): Yarding: 42,000, (-5,050).Reduced yarding and softer quality led to a cheaper lamb market overall, with strong store demand but lower trade and heavy lamb prices, while mutton remained steady. Full report available here.
  • Deniliquin sheep report (MLA): Yarding: 4,300, (+50). Limited yarding after a break saw strong prices for quality heavy and trade lambs, while lighter lambs and sheep showed more variable and softer results. Full report available here.
  • TRLX Tamworth sheep report (DC). View the latest report here
Victoria
  • CVLX Ballarat sheep report (MLA): Yarding: 22,908, (-8,118). Slightly lower lamb supply met softer buying support, with trade and store lambs mostly firm but heavy and extra heavy lambs easing, while sheep prices also trended softer across most categories. Full report available here
  • MLA.
  • Elders
South Australia
  • Dublin sheep report (MLA): Yarding: 8,500, (-1,500). Slightly reduced yarding delivered mixed results, with firm store demand but softer trade lamb and heavy mutton prices reflecting broader market trends. Full report available here.
  • Naracoorte sheep report (MLA): Yarding: 3,685, (-4,975). Reduced supply saw generally easier lamb and sheep prices, though heavier lambs held stronger demand and achieved higher top-end returns. Full report available here.
  • Dublin sheep report (Elders). Watch the latest report here
Western Australia
  • Muchea sheep report (MLA):Yarding: 13,706, (-1,250). Strong supply and full buyer competition kept most lamb prices firm, though heavy lambs and mutton eased slightly while store lamb numbers declined. Full report available here
Tasmania
  • Powranna sheep report (MLA): Yarding: 3,698, (-531). Full report available here.