Slaughter sheep prices continued to strengthen during the second week of June, according to ACG. Lambs averaged US$/kg 6.13 carcass, up 2 cents, wethers reached US$/kg 5.20 carcass, up 4 cents, and ewes averaged US$/kg 5.11 carcass, up 3 cents.
According to traders, many producers are waiting to complete shearing before marketing their animals. There is also an expectation that lambs may gain additional weight once forage conditions improve.
“People are waiting to shear and let lambs put on a few more kilos,” one source said.
The performance of winter forage crops over the coming weeks will be a key factor in determining when larger numbers of sheep begin to come onto the market for slaughter.
