Lamb price holding up

THERE are a lot of diesel fueled vehicles running around and of course all the machinery that uses diesel will no doubt put pressure on the producer’s bottom line.

The price of lamb and mutton hasn’t been affected since the start of the war but the volumes have fallen dramatically.

The figures for lamb and mutton exports to the Middle East in March were just 4,426 tonnes which is only 30% of the total sent in March 2025

It would appear that the meat normally sent to this market has found a different market and hence the lack of reaction on prices in Australian saleyards and direct to the works.

This week we saw mutton prices rise even further with sales at Bendigo, Ballarat, Hamilton and Horsham all showing most mutton averages sitting between 800c and 900c with extremes at Ballarat at 900c to 980c/kg carcass weight.

The numbers are very low with 2,090 at Bendigo, 5,636 at Ballarat, 5,200 at Hamiton and Horsham 1,600 head.

These are small number historically for this time of the year and is the reason for these record mutton prices.

Interesting to note that the Hamilton sale on Wednesday was quoted a few dollars cheaper, I wonder if the buyers have said that is enough of the over 900c sheep.

At Powranna on Tuesday most averages sat between 760c and 890c/kg with extra heavy sheep making $254 to $304, heavy $200 to $242, medium $152 to $204 and light $80 to $150/head.

Big numbers of mutton made between $180 to $240/head which is a great return for cast-for-age sheep.

Most lamb markets in Southeast Australia are continuing to hold firm with most averages sitting between 1,150c and 1,250c for trade weights and 1,100c to 1,180c for heavy lambs which is basically at all time highs particularly for this time of the year. I wonder where the ceiling is.