Wagga Sheep Market Report

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Report Date: 26th March 2026

Total Yarding: 42,000

Commentary

This week, lamb numbers saw a notable increase, driven by a strong sale the previous week. The quality of the lambs was exceptional, with no tail to the offering, highlighting the overall quality available to buyers. A few more export and domestic processors participated in the sale, and all were actively engaged. This increased competition contributed to a market lift, particularly as domestic processors were willing to step up for the better finished lambs, which influenced pricing. However, feedlots appeared to lose some of their earlier intensity, showing less aggression across trade weight categories.

Trade lambs met strong competition, leading to an increase of $8 for the lighter 21-22kg lambs, which sold between $262 and $277/head. Meanwhile, the 22-24kg lambs traded either side of firm, averaging around 1185c/kg. Lambs suitable for feeding in the 20-24kg range were priced from $233 to $290/head. In the 24-26kg category, lambs faced stronger competition from supermarkets and southern processors, pushing prices up by $5 to a range of $295 to $334/head. For lambs returning to the paddock, prices varied from $175 to $274/head. Merino lambs shorn, were keenly sought by several restockers and buyers paid from $178-$233 averaging 1278c/kg cwt.

On the export front, the quality was outstanding, with a good number recently shorn. Lambs in the 26-30kg weight range saw a price increase of $12, selling from $302 to $363/head. For lambs over 30kg, prices improved by $11, resulting in sales from $360 to $456/head, averaging 1090c/kg.

It was very mixed yarding of mutton with all weights and grades represented. There were more buyers operating alongside restockers. Restockers were bidding for plainer light weight ewes with some pens of ewes scanned in lamb. Heavy sheep sold from $228 to $324 to average 840c/kg cwt. Trade mutton sold from $190-$224 to average around 814c/kg cwt. Ewes scanned in lamb sold to a top price of $292/head.

Leann Dax, Market Reporter.