Selling
Selling Online
By far, the most profitable way to sell sheep is direct-to-buyer. Proven ewes and ewe lambs usually go quick. Rams and ram lambs? Not so much. As of this writing (2025), quality unregistered ewe lambs sell for $200+, and ram lambsaround $150+.
That said, I’ve seen plenty of people in 2023–2024 trying to offload ewes for $125–$150 and rams for $100—and not always selling. Be cautious where you buy and who you're selling to. Not all sheep are worth the feed it took to grow 'em.
Market Sales
I’ve watched the livestock markets for five years straight. The best prices typically show up November through January. There are small spikes here and there, but those winter months are usually the sweet spot.
Your local feed store or co-op can point you to nearby sale barns or market stations. We’ve got one within 20 minutes of our farm. There’s also the Graded Sale in Columbia, TN, which has better pricing potential—but it’s two hours away. That’s a four-hour round trip plus sitting around in line, which just isn’t worth it if you’ve only got a few sheep to unload.
Let’s break down the numbers:
Say live weight is $2.25/lb
A 6-month lamb at 50 lbs would bring in about $112
Sure, you can fatten them up with grain, but grain ain’t free
In 2024, I’ve seen sheep go for anywhere from $1.50 to $2.95/lb, depending on the day, condition, and luck. Sometimes you win. Sometimes you drive home grumbling.
Pros & Cons of Market Sales
Biggest advantage? You don’t have to deal with people.
You don’t get no-shows, time-wasters, or folks saying:
“I don’t have the money today, but can you hold them until payday?”
If you sell sheep for more than 5 minutes, you’ll run into that kind of buyer. Most folks are fine—but the few who aren’t will test your religion.
One note: Wool sheep are harder to sell. Most folks don’t want to shear. We keep a few for ourselves, but don’t expect fast sales on them.
Buying Stock
There are plenty of small herds out there for sale, and often for cheap. But remember—cheap sheep are usually being sold for a reason, and it’s rarely because they’re profitable.
Red flags to watch for:
Mixed ear tags(from different farms)? Walk away. That’s usually a pen of auction culls somebody slapped together to make a buck.
Long-legged, skinny sheep? Bad for meat, unless they’ve got a lamb on them. Not worth feeding.
Don’t like what you see? Walk. I’ve done it plenty. If they get offended—too bad. Save their number in your phone as “Bad Sheep” or “Shit Stock” so you don’t make that mistake twice.
If you’re always buying and selling new stock, sooner or later you’ll bring something nasty onto your land—parasites, disease, genetics that won’t fatten. Be picky. Paying a little more for quality, reputable animals is worth it in the long run.
