Primeline Maternal Ewe Market Drivers

October, 2022

Lambpro first marketed clients’ Primeline Maternal ewes in 2006 as part of a branded lamb sale. Since then, ewe marketing has been a key part of Lambpro, as these ewes have formed and entry point for new clients to access genetics without the build up time frame. 

Ewe sales have always been cyclical, and that pattern is unlikely to change. One major advantage of a self-replacing system is that you don’t need to buy ewes every year – unlike the traditional first-cross ewe model. As a result, most purchases occur when new clients enter the market, when existing clients rebuild after a drought, or when they expand onto new land.

We often see spikes in demand post-drought; for example, around 2010 and again in 2020. Between these spikes, demand tends to be driven by how land used for sheep competes financially against other enterprises (often wool), along with general changes in farming operations.

A key strength of Primeline Maternal ewes is their solid reputation compared to other composites. We invest significant time and resources into promoting our clients’ ewes, and we will continue to do so in the future.

It’s important to consider ewe lamb sales in terms of cents per kilo (relative to store or slaughter prices) rather than by head count. Over the long term, ewe lambs should return a premium of about $2–$3 per kilogram dressed weight above comparable lambs, adding substantial value to a lamb enterprise with little additional cost.