General News
3 June, 2025
Lamb prices set new records
Records fell in saleyards across Western Victoria at the end of May, with Warracknabeal Livestock Exchange breaking the national price of lambs with a first pen price of $410 per head, and Horsham and Ballarat recording prices above $400 per head.
The record price in Warracknabeal set the tone of the sale for further success, with three additional pens recording $409 per head.
Warracknabeal narrowly inched Horsham out of the top spot of a short-lived record-breaking price of $403 early that day.
The Warracknabeal sale recorded 3484 lambs and 121 sheep with prices better than average throughout the day.
Sale day records show light store lambs gained $9 to $15, light and medium trade sold $10 to $30 dearer, and heavy trade gained $40 per head.
Horsham Regional Livestock Exchange on Wednesday, May 28, had an air of excitement amongst vendors and buyers as bumper yarding and strong demand led to the record-breaking sale.
One pen of lambs reached $403 per head, briefly setting a national record before being topped by the Warracknabeal sale.
Across the heavy lamb pens offered in Horsham, most consistently reached $300 per head, reflecting the strong quality of stock and high buyer interest.
More than 7000 lambs and 2000 mutton were yarded at Horsham, double the number of those yarded the previous week.
HRLE Manager Paul Christopher said the mood around the exchange was upbeat, with farmers pleased to see the market respond to their hard work during a challenging season.
“It was a really positive day," he said.
"The lambs looked fantastic, and there was a great atmosphere at the sale.
"Plenty of smiles from vendors and buyers alike."
The impressive prices this week were driven by a combination of factors, including ongoing dry conditions.
Additionally, rough seas in the Bass Strait disrupted Tasmanian supply, placing further pressure on the mainland market, pushing prices up.
Spokesperson for Horsham Rural City Council said the record breaking sale showed confidence in the region.
"The result highlighted the importance of HRLE as a key selling centre in Western Victoria, continuing to attract strong competition and delivering outstanding returns for local producers," they said.
Lamb numbers increased slightly to 25,000 at Ballarat, quality was again mixed with lambs off feed in excellent condition, to lambs lacking weight and shape showing the signs of the dry cold conditions.
"Ballarat recorded a top lamb price of $400 per head for extra heavy export lambs in the same week, selling $50 to $65/head, stronger than the prior week," Ross Johns said, showing that prices across the region were all in a similar bracket and quality was on par across the region.
Many producers have resorted to hand-feeding lambs, with grain and protein-rich diets contributing to the animals' excellent condition and presentation.
"While prices set records, and show a confidence in the market across the region, the cost of hand feeding to achieve that quality when there is little to no feed on the ground is a factor," one farmer said.
With that taken into account, the profit margin for the vendor may not be any greater than a lamb that sold for half that price, but in the current climate, it shows a vote of confidence in the quality of lambs produced in the region and the ability of the agriculture sector to adapt to conditions.
