Hungarian lambs on the global market – Hunland at the forefront of lamb trading
Lamb trading has been a defining pillar of Hungarian livestock farming for decades — and an essential part of Hunland’s operation as well.
Since the founding of our company in 1992, we have been a reliable partner of Hungarian shepherds and livestock farmers: we purchase lambs directly from them, and the animals are transported to our domestic and international partners throughout the year under strict animal-welfare and transport regulations. At Hunland, lamb procurement takes place continuously, all year round.
Lamb procurement at Hunland
Our goal is to support farmers, which is why we maintain open communication about what type of animals are in demand on international markets and what characteristics are worth focusing on in production. We also publish lamb and sheep purchase prices on our website every week.
Pure-bred sheep and lambs are consistently the most sought-after on the market. The breeds we primarily look for at Hunland include Merino, Île de France, and well-framed meat-type lambs with proper ear tags. Healthy, strong animals fed with quality feed reach optimal weight faster and ensure stable, healthy flocks.
Hunland’s Feed Center supports farmers by providing high-quality feeds, milk replacers, salt licks, mineral supplements, raw materials, and by-products. Every farmer in Hungary has a direct contact person — a Hunland regional livestock buyer — who offers full professional support in all areas of production: animal health, housing and technology, feeding, procurement, and logistics.
Our colleagues handle the complete organization of transporting ear-tagged animals and coordinate payments within 5 days or initiate compensation procedures when needed.
A diversified international market ensures stable procurement
The year 2025 was challenging for lamb trading as well. Throughout the spring, several disease outbreaks affecting both cattle and sheep — such as foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) — made procurement and exports more difficult. Market activity slowed, export licenses were temporarily restricted, and many farmers faced unpredictable conditions.
For most Hungarian farmers, the Italian market is traditionally the primary destination — but this year, the outbreaks disrupted exports significantly. Despite this, Hunland’s lamb procurement continued without interruption, thanks to our available facilities, newly opened lamb barns, and diversified export markets.
While Hungarian farmers mainly produce for the Italian market — aligning lambing cycles with Easter, Christmas, and the summer Ferragosto holiday — only about 15% of Hunland’s lamb exports go to Italy.
Over the years, we have built a strong, diversified export network, supplying lambs not only to Croatia but also outside the EU, particularly to Arab countries. In these regions lamb has exceptionally high gastronomic value, and its consumption is not tied to holidays.
Our goal is to provide farmers with a stable, year-round market, reducing seasonal fluctuations. We are committed to standing firmly behind lamb-producing farmers so they can continue what we also believe in: raising and fattening lambs for both domestic and international markets.
Professional community and farmer support
For Hunland, lamb trading is not just business — it is professional cooperation.
In autumn 2024, more than two hundred participants attended our Lamb Rearing Professional Day at our Kiskunlacháza site, where we discussed the future of breeding, housing, and nutrition together with farmers.
We support our partners every day: Hunland’s Feed Center Division provides high-quality lamb feeds and a wide range of nutritional supplements for every stage of lamb rearing, lambing, and fattening — ensuring healthy animal development and long-term, sustainable and efficient farm operation.
Our goal is simple: healthy lambs and satisfied farmers across the Hunland community.
Modern facilities, sustainable growth
In response to the growing demand for lamb, we have made significant investments in recent years.
Our facilities have been upgraded to improve animal welfare and operational sustainability:
- Kiskunlacháza: A new, modern lamb barn was built, and three existing barns were fully renovated — expanding capacity to more than 10,000 lambs. Electronic feeding systems ensure more balanced nutrition and better welfare.
- Iregszemcse: Another state-of-the-art lamb barn was built with automated feeding technology and solar power generation. This system improves feeding efficiency while reducing fuel use and environmental impact.
As a result of these developments, Hunland can now accommodate nearly 20,000 lambs across its facilities.
“Business class” transport — the Hunland way
One of the keys to successful lamb trading is safe, comfortable transport.
Thanks to our modern livestock transport fleet, our animals quite literally travel in “business class”: our vehicles are equipped with temperature- and ventilation-controlled systems, drinking lines, and non-slip flooring to ensure maximum comfort throughout the journey. This is especially important as we export lambs outside Europe as well.
A strong future for Hungarian lamb
Hunland remains committed to advancing Hungarian lamb trading, supporting sustainable livestock farming and biodiversity. Our aim is to provide long-term, reliable market access for shepherds while strengthening our position on international markets.
We firmly believe that Hungarian lamb — thanks to its quality, origin, and the expertise behind it — deserves its place on the world’s gastronomic map.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact our colleagues:
Lamb procurement & trading:
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📞 +36 70 198 5147
Lamb feed & milk replacers:
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📞 +36 29 548 420
