Lamb and mutton prices have been sneaking up, the magic $10/kg available for lamb this spring. These prices will flow on into the new season to the benefit of store lamb producers. High performance sheep will once again underpin hill country returns. Breeders will get a turn, a better share of these improved prices, and a better balance with finishers. How can Wairere help maximise your returns this year?

The 2025 financial year is ending much better than it started. But the first half of the year still ranked in the misery index for those of us/you who had to sell most lambs and ewes before Christmas. Or were hammered by storms. Or endured the summer/autumn drought which impacted severely on parts of the North Island. At Wairere we seem to have been in a rain shadow since April 2023, the two years since averaging 655mm per year against a long term average of 1125mm. We have had to drop stocking rate to squeeze through.