The Muchea lamb sale on 11 February 2026 delivered one of the strongest results seen in Western Australia, with pricing and buyer competition exceeding expectations.
The happy Elders team after the successful lamb sale at Muchea.
A total of 19,414 crossbred and Merino lambs were yarded on the day, with the sale averaging $225.48 per head. Strong demand from both local and interstate buyers saw a significant portion of the offering purchased by processors and feedlotters from the eastern states.
Wayne Peake, Elders Western Region Livestock Sales Manager, said the sale was one of the most significant he has witnessed in his 27 years in the industry.
“To say this sale was a great result is an understatement by a long shot,” Wayne said.
The yarding included 10,063 crossbred lambs, which averaged $232.95 per head, alongside 9,351 Merino lambs, averaging $217.44 per head. Pricing exceeded expectations, with lambs selling at levels well above where the market had been tracking.
“Leading into the sale, pricing had been tracking around 490 cents per kilogram liveweight,” Wayne said.
“By the end of the sale, we were closer to 530 to 540 cents a kilo, which is around 50 cents dearer than anticipated.
“That increase equates to roughly another $20 per head on a 40 kilo lamb, which is a significant uplift for growers.”
The level of competition was driven by strong local support, alongside interest from interstate processors, feedlotters and agents, particularly from South Australia. Buyers also participated online, adding further depth to bidding throughout the sale.
The result reflected broader market conditions, with sheep numbers at historically low levels and ongoing supply pressure across the southern states.
“Sheep numbers are at an all time low, and processors are fighting hard to retain stock in Western Australia,” Wayne said.
“With drought conditions in South Australia and southern Victoria, there’s increased competition for sheep to keep plants operating.”
The result was supported by the quality of the lambs presented, along with the efforts of the team involved in planning and delivering the sale.
“The team did an unreal job sourcing good quality lambs with weight, and the sale ran extremely well from start to finish,” Wayne said.
“It was really good to see the response from vendors on the day and how happy they were with the result.”