Sheep Market Summary – 4 October 2026

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Sheep markets were mixed nationally, with strong demand supporting lamb and mutton prices across several eastern markets, while Western Australia recorded softer lamb values amid weaker buyer competition.

The trends appear to be:

• Queensland lambs strengthened on rain-reduced supply and restocker and butcher demand.

• New South Wales markets were generally firm to dearer, although trade lambs eased at Yass while mutton strengthened.

• Victoria remained mostly firm, with quality influencing lamb prices and mixed results for sheep.

• South Australia recorded a firm to dearer lamb market on strong trade and restocker competition.

• Tasmania was firm to dearer, while Western Australian lambs eased and mutton improved selectively.

Queensland

• Warwick: Rain-reduced yardings and stronger restocker and butcher demand lifted store and trade lamb prices, while hoggets and mutton remained steady.

Summary: Queensland lamb markets strengthened on tighter supply and improved buyer demand.

New South Wales

• Carcoar: Good quality and increased yardings met firm to dearer lamb demand, particularly for heavy lambs, while mutton remained fully firm.

• Yass: Store lambs remained mostly firm, trade lambs eased, while stronger demand lifted mutton prices.

• Cowra: Improved buyer competition lifted most lamb categories, with trade and heavy lambs dearer and mutton also strengthening.

Summary: NSW markets were generally firm to dearer, with strong heavy lamb and mutton demand offsetting softer trade lamb prices at Yass.

Victoria

• Horsham: Lamb prices held firm, while light to medium sheep strengthened and heavy sheep eased slightly.

• Hamilton: Lambs remained firm in a quality-driven market, with sheep mostly steady and medium to heavy weights slightly softer.

Summary: Victorian markets remained mostly firm, with selective strength in lighter sheep and quality lambs.

South Australia

• Mt Gambier: Strong trade and restocker competition supported a firm to dearer lamb market.

Summary: South Australian lambs strengthened on solid buyer competition.

Tasmania

• Powranna: Lamb prices remained solid, while sheep sold fully firm to slightly dearer, particularly in lighter and medium weights.

Summary: Tasmanian markets were firm to dearer, supported by reduced yardings.

Western Australia

• Katanning: Lamb prices eased across all categories amid weaker demand, while store and medium-weight mutton strengthened and heavy sheep remained mostly firm.

• Muchea and Weekly Wool Report: No specific market trends provided.

Summary: Western Australian lambs softened, while mutton recorded selective improvement.

National Summary

Sheep markets were mixed, with New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania generally recording firm to stronger results. Victoria remained mostly steady, while Western Australia experienced weaker lamb demand but improved prices for selected mutton categories. Strong demand for heavy lambs and mutton supported eastern markets, although results varied with quality, weight and buyer competition.

 👉 See full sale reports and videos below. 

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Sheep yardings & reports

Queensland

• Warwick sheep report: Yarding: 1,004, (-691). Rain-reduced yardings drove stronger prices for store and trade lambs, with restocker and butcher demand lifting values, while hoggets and mutton remained steady. Full report available here
  

New South Wales

• Cowra sheep report: Yarding: 6,410, (+380). Increased lamb yardings and improved buyer competition lifted most lamb categories, with trade and heavy lambs dearer and mutton gaining $3–$7/head. Full report available here
• CTLX Carcoar sheep report: Yarding: 9,500, (+2,250). Increased yardings and good quality saw lamb prices firm to dearer, particularly heavy lambs, while mutton remained fully firm. Full report available here
  • MLA
  • RLX
• SELX Yass sheep report: Yarding: 26,227, (+5,422). Higher lamb and mutton yardings saw store lambs remain mostly firm, trade lambs ease $8–$10/head, while stronger demand lifted mutton prices by $10–$15/head. Full report available here
  • MLA
  • Elders

Victoria

• Hamilton sheep report: Yarding: 9,000, (+500). Increased lamb yardings and mixed quality saw prices hold firm in a quality-driven market, while sheep remained mostly firm with medium and heavy weights easing slightly. Full report available here
  
• Horsham sheep report: Yarding: 8,300, (-3,800). Reduced lamb and sheep yardings maintained a solid market, with lamb prices holding firm and light to medium sheep strengthening, while heavy sheep eased slightly. Watch the latest report here
  • MLA
  • AWN

South Australia 

• Mt Gambier sheep report: Yarding: 3,721, (+1,579). Increased yardings and strong trade and restocker competition supported a firm to dearer lamb market, with heavy lambs reaching $372/head. Full report available here
  

Western Australia

• Katanning sheep report: Yarding: 11,636, (-166). Reduced yardings saw lamb prices ease across all categories due to weaker demand, while store and medium weight mutton strengthened and heavy sheep remained mostly firm. Full report available here
• Muchea Sheep Report (3/11). Read the latest report here
• Weekly Wool Report. Read the latest report here

Tasmania

• Powranna sheep report: Yarding: 2,177, (-361). Reduced lamb and mutton yardings saw lamb prices remain solid, while sheep sold fully firm to slightly dearer, particularly in the light and medium weights. Full report available here

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