SA Livestock Market Prices

Benchmark price ranges for South African livestock and commodities. Use these to sense-check your buying and selling decisions.

📅 Benchmarks: Q3 2026 (updated 1 August 2026) · Updated monthly

🐑 Small Stock — Sheep & Goats

Slaughter sheep
Dorper / Mutton — Live weight
R75 — R90 ↑ firm
per kg live weight
A-grade wether, 40–50 kg: R3,000–4,500. Prices peak in Ramadan, Christmas and Easter periods.
Weaner lamb
Dorper / Dohne Lamb (20–30 kg)
R85 — R105 ↑
per kg live weight
Weaner premiums reward good genetics and early weaning weights. Top Dorper weaners fetch R2,200–3,200 at auction.
Merino
Merino cull ewe
R60 — R75 → stable
per kg live weight
Cull ewes command lower prices than mutton-bred animals. Value also driven by wool cut on the carcass.
Boer goat
Boer Goat — slaughter kid
R80 — R110 ↑
per kg live weight
Informal and halaal market commands significant premiums over abattoir prices, especially in urban centres.
Stud
Dorper stud ram
R8,000 — R35,000+ ↑
per head
Top-end SA National Dorper Society auction rams can exceed R100,000. Commercial rams: R5,000–12,000.
Angora goat
Mohair — fine (under 28 micron)
R350 — R450 ↑ seasonal record
per kg (market indicator)
Mohair had a seasonal-record run in 2026 — the market indicator closed above R400/kg at several 2026 Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha) auctions, with premium kid mohair (under 24 micron) fetching R1,000+/kg for top lots.

🧶 Wool — Cape Wools SA

Fine Merino wool
Under 18.5 micron
R220 — R320 ↑ record season
per kg clean
SA wool prices ran ~40%+ above the start of the 2025/26 season, with the all-merino indicator closing around R270/kg clean. Exceptional fine lots (under 17 micron) have fetched R330–435+/kg clean at auction.
Medium Merino wool
18.5–21 micron
R180 — R260 ↑ record season
per kg clean
The bulk of SA production falls in this category, tracking close to the all-merino indicator. Measured and classed wool earns a premium over unclassed.
Broad Merino wool
21–24 micron
R120 — R180 ↑ lagging fine wool
per kg clean
Broad wools are participating in the season's broader price rally but at a wider discount to fine micron than usual. Genetic selection toward finer micron improves returns long-term.
Greasy basis
Average greasy floor price
R140 — R190 ↑ record season
per kg greasy
Greasy = as-shorn. Clean yield (typically 65–72%) and micron drive final price. Auctions held in Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha) — check Cape Wools SA for current results.

🐄 Cattle — Beef & Dairy

Beef weaner
Weaner steer (180–240 kg)
R38 — R42 ↑ strong
per kg live weight
National average auction price was ~R40/kg live weight in early 2026 (range R38–41/kg across provinces), with reports of renewed momentum through mid-2026. Bonsmara and Beefmaster weaners command a premium over this base.
Slaughter cattle
A2/A3 grade steer
R38 — R48 ↑
per kg live weight
SAMIC classifies by grade (A, AB, B, C) and fat class (0–6). A2/A3 is the most sought-after commercial grade.
Cull cow
Cull cow — commercial
R22 — R32 →
per kg live weight
Significant discount to steer price. Cull cows average 400–500 kg — plan culling to coincide with high-demand periods.
Dairy
Milk price — processor
R6.50 — R7.50 ↑
per litre at gate
National average farm-gate price was ~R7.20/litre in early 2026. Varies by processor, fat% and protein% bonuses. Artisanal / direct-sell dairy can achieve R12–20/litre retail.
In-calf heifer
Holstein / Jersey heifer
R18,000 — R30,000 ↑ scarce
per head
Quality in-calf dairy heifers are in short supply nationally. Budget for R22,000–26,000 for proven first-calvers in 2026.
Stud beef
Bonsmara stud bull
R25,000 — R120,000+ ↑
per head
Bonsmara Society auctions regularly see R300,000+ for top bulls. Commercial bulls from reputable studs: R25,000–55,000.

🐷 Pigs & Poultry

Pork
Baconer — live weight
R28 — R36 → stable
per kg live weight
Processors typically pay R28–34/kg live for 90–100 kg baconers. Smaller processors or direct restaurant sales can yield R36+.
Broiler
Live broiler — farm gate
R30 — R38 ↑
per kg live weight
Retail IQF chicken averages R55–70/kg. Informal market live sales R55–70/bird (1.8 kg). Direct sell to restaurants improves margins significantly.
Free-range eggs
Table eggs — large (60 g+)
R42 — R60 ↑ firm
per tray of 30
Free-range label commands R55–80/tray at farm stalls. Conventional eggs wholesale at R32–40/tray. AI outbreaks constrain supply nationally.
Honey
Raw honey — farm direct
R120 — R200 ↑
per kg retail / direct
Bulk wholesale averages R85–110/kg. Retail packaging (500 ml jar) = R65–100 per unit. Specialty (fynbos, citrus blossom) fetches R200+/kg.

📅 Major SA Livestock Auction Calendar

Auction / MarketLocationSpeciesFrequencySource
Vleissentraal / AgrimarkNationwideCattle, sheep, goatsWeeklyRPO / Agri SA
Karan BeefHeidelberg, GautengBeef cattle (feedlot)Weekly intakeKaran Beef
Cape Wools SA AuctionsGqeberha (Port Elizabeth)Merino woolWeekly during seasoncapewools.co.za
Cape Mohair AuctionsGqeberhaAngora mohairMonthlycapemohair.co.za
SA Pork Producers' Org.PretoriaPork (live / carcass)Weekly price releasesapork.co.za
SAMIC Grade DataNationwide abattoirsRed meat carcassWeekly reportssamic.co.za
Agri4All / FarmlinkOnlineAll livestockDaily listingsfarmlink.co.za
Dorper Society AuctionsVaries by provinceDorper studMonthly (peak Aug–Nov)dorper.co.za
Bonsmara Society AuctionsVariesBonsmara studMonthlybonsmara.co.za

🌽 Key Feed Input Prices

Yellow maize
SAFEX spot price
R3,600—R4,200→
per tonne (R3.60–4.20/kg)
SAFEX prices fluctuate with rand strength, US maize market and SA harvest. Check JSE SAFEX daily.
Lucerne hay
Baled lucerne — delivered
R4.50—R6.00↑
per kg (delivered to farm)
Lucerne from Northern Cape / Western Cape. Price spikes in drought years. Lock in supply contracts where possible.
Soybean meal
Full-fat / extracted
R8.00—R11.00→
per kg
Key protein source for monogastrics. Price linked to global soy market and rand. South African soy production growing.
Ewe lick (protein)
33% CP protein lick
R6.50—R9.00↑
per kg (ready-to-feed)
Essential in dry veld regions. Feed 150–250 g/ewe/day in winter. Calculate cost vs. improved weaning % returns.

Price disclaimer: All prices shown are indicative benchmarks based on publicly available SA auction data, industry publications (Farmer's Weekly, RPO, SAMIC, Cape Wools SA) and market reports current as of 1 August 2026. Beef weaner, dairy, wool and mohair figures were refreshed this update against current 2026 auction/indicator data; other categories reflect the prior Q1–Q2 2026 benchmark pending a full refresh. Actual prices vary by region, grade, condition, season, and market access.

These benchmarks are provided for planning and estimation purposes only and do not constitute financial or trading advice. Always verify current prices with your local agent, auction house, or processor before making purchasing or selling decisions.

Official sources: samic.co.za · capewools.co.za · rpo.co.za · safex.co.za