New season lamb numbers are nonetheless 7% decrease YoY for the spring flush, retracting once more this week (Determine 2). High quality and weight of lambs proceed to be unstable week to week, and the decline in numbers and the next proportion of lighter lambs resulted in declining costs this week.
Mutton indicators had been the only real improvers this week, up 4c to 752c/kg cwt. The remainder of the nationwide saleyard indicators averaged declines starting from 25 to 50c/kg. The Japanese States Commerce Lamb Indicator (ESTLI) dropped 51c to 1092c/kg cwt.
MLA saleyard reviews element numerous variability amongst the East Coast sale centres. Wagga noticed a giant decline in numbers, lighter lambs dominated yarding however weren’t in sturdy demand from consumers assembled. Provide was fully totally different in Hamilton, which noticed a giant increase to lamb throughput with wonderful new season lambs on provide, offering respiratory room for the consumers who had been lively. Ballarat noticed much less restocking exercise and choosy shopping for for lighter lambs as commerce weights remained over $10/kg cwt as lighter lambs pushed beneath that threshold at instances. Naracoorte noticed numbers and high quality enhance, however the market eased barely throughout the board.
Confidence was increased, however lamb markings had been decrease in 2025, in response to the MLA AWI Sheep Producer Intentions Survey newest iteration in October. As damaged down by Jamie Lee Oldfield in Mecardo this week, provide and the decrease lamb markings this yr will lead to fewer lambs being bought in January and June 2026 in comparison with final. (learn extra right here).
