Digital market insights sharpen with new national sheep indicator

 A new Online Sheep Indicator (OSI) has been launched by Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA), offering producers and buyers clearer insights into price and supply trends across restocker and breeder sheep sold through digital platforms. 

The OSI tracks price and head count trends over 12 months, with breakdowns by breed and filters by state, region, and category. 

At present, AuctionsPlus is the only online sales platform contributing data to the OSI.

AuctionsPlus Chief Executive Officer Wyn Snyman said:  "We're proud that MLA and AuctionsPlus continues to expand our collaboration by launching the Online Sheep Indicator to complement the Online Young Cattle Indicator (OYCI) and Online Lamb Indicator (OLI) already available in market.

"It’s a reflection of the scale, consistency, and transparency of the platform—and our commitment to supporting the industry with practical, real-time insights.

"At AuctionsPlus, our purpose is to connect agriculture through a national platform that delivers both market access and meaningful insights.

"This helps our users make timely, informed decisions and get the most value from every listing.

"The launch of this indicator supports that mission and reflects our focus on turning data into practical tools for the industry.”

Online Sheep Indicator on Tuesday, June 24, 2025.

MLA Managing Director Michael Crowley said the indicator would be useful for tracking value and price during cycles of flock rebuilding.

"With poor conditions currently impacting producers in South Australia and Victoria, it will be especially valuable as producers move into a rebuild once conditions break," Mr Crowley said.

Meanwhile, a new National Feeder Heifer Indicator (NFHI) was also launched on Tuesday, offering a dedicated lens into the feeder heifer market, an area previously underrepresented in national reporting.

Mr Crowley said the new indicators were part of a broader investment in market transparency and tools for producers.

“The more information we can capture, the better the price transparency across all livestock markets," Mr Crowley said. 

“We continue to encourage participation from all livestock sale platforms to strengthen the value of these indicators.”