January used to convey peaks in lamb slaughter. We expect it had a bit to do with the Australia Day Lamb promoting marketing campaign. The adverts are nonetheless there, however now slaughter tends to construct via summer time and into autumn.
This January we did see east coast lamb slaughter spike above 400,000 head for the primary time since early June. Determine 1 exhibits that within the second week slaughter fell again to ranges just like the place it completed 2025.
Determine 2 exhibits that it seems to be prefer it was a straight swap for mutton, with sheep slaughter spiking within the second week after beginning slower than it completed 2025.
For the second half of 2025, and the primary two weeks of 2026, complete lamb slaughter was 12% decrease than the identical interval in 2024 to 25. This can be a important drop in slaughter, however we have to keep in mind that 2024 was a powerful yr, and lamb slaughter has been simply 3% under the 5 yr common because the begin of July.
As at all times, it’s onerous to inform if lambs are late, or in the event that they have been merely not born within the first place. The fact might be a little bit of each. The push to market lambs at heavier weights, and the rise of lotfeeding, has seen autumn change spring as the height slaughter interval, and this yr is more likely to be comparable.
Mutton slaughter is much less dependable, tending to bounce round in response to seasonal components. Regardless of the robust lamb costs, and the motivation to rebuild flocks, sheep provide has remained close to the 5 yr common, Determine 2. Little doubt mutton values at ranges we used to contemplate good for lambs has producers opting to give up some much less productive sheep quite than carry them via summer time.
Costs have held comparatively regular since opening the yr. Lamb costs are nonetheless superb, and retailer lamb costs counsel many count on them to remain robust. Determine 3 exhibits how good costs are in comparison with historic ranges, however it’s going to take a powerful carry in provide to see them ease markedly.
