[REVISION HISTORY]

Australian sheep breeding ewe shortage

Updated 1 time since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-09-16 22:17 UTC → 2026-09-30 04:15 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Australia is experiencing a significant shortage of breeding ewes, which has driven sheep prices to record levels. In regions such as Narrandera and West Wyalong, first-cross ewes have fetched upwards of $600. Data indicates that the national breeding ewe population decreased by 10 percent over a two-year period, reaching an estimated 43 million head in the 2025 financial year. Projections from Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) suggested the population could have dropped to a record low of approximately 40 million head through the first half of 2026. ~~This decline was~~ Stuart Bull, MLA’s market information manager, attributed this decline to tight seasons and high prices for sheep sent to processors. ~~However, recent~~ Recent indicators suggest the rapid reduction in the flock may have stabilized. While it is too early to confirm a genuine rebuild, slaughter data and producer intention surveys suggest the period of rapid reduction may have ended. As of September 2026, the sheep and lamb slaughter index shows a mixed regional supply landscape rather than a broad national spring surge. While sheep and lamb prices have fallen across most processor categories over a four-week period, throughput varies by state. Western Australia and South Australia saw increases in their slaughter indices, whereas New South Wales experienced a tightening of supply. Despite regional variations, mutton prices have retreated from winter highs, with the Mutton Indicator falling by approximately 69c to reach about 798c/kg cwt.

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