Supply is still high, but prices are steady
The cattle market experienced little movement in the past seven days, as a public holiday in some states saw yardings dip below the five-year average – something that has only happened this year in other short weeks. Feeder buyers are holding firm, and processors have also kept their prices steady, while restockers may have started […]
Aussie lamb still leaping overseas
Australia’s total sheepmeat exports dropped 3% year-on-year for the month of May but remains 1% above 2024 for the year-to-date. Trump and all his tariff back and forth may be starting to have an impact, as exports to the US dipped and volumes to China increased. Meanwhile, increased tariff-free quotas have seen total sheepmeat exports […]
Back to the paddock, lambs start to surge
The rise and rise of the sheep and lamb market over the past month has all Meat & Livestock Australia price indicators sitting at between 18% and 39% above the five-year averages for the same time of year, and this week the positive trend has generally continued. Lambs headed back to the paddock or onto […]
Heifer price holds up
The national restocker price has held fairly firm for the second quarter of 2025, sitting at a premium of around 10% year-on-year, as well as above the 10-year average. Given the significant turnoff figures and the seasonal weather conditions in parts of the country – be it too wet or too dry – they haven’t […]
Slaughter still sky high
The cattle market regained most of the ground lost over the past month this week, as saleyard throughput fell by 6%, likely due to rainfall on the east coast and in southern NSW. Processor and feeder stock held steady, while cows and young cattle experienced the most upside. The Eastern Young Cattle Indicator closed the […]
First quarter slaughter shows dry dictated turnoff
The latest livestock production figures are out from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, and it will come as no surprise that sheep and lamb turnoff was historically high for the first three months of the year. Lamb slaughter rose very marginally year-on-year but still recorded the second highest quarterly figure on record, while the sheep […]
Competition heats up for heavies
Lower throughput and some positive rainfall forecasts pushed the sheep and lamb market in the right direction this week, with most sectors experiencing a significant rise. Increased buying support was reported at several yards, as both supermarket and export processors look to secure the lambs they need, at the weight they need, before they run […]
Feedlots fill as the southern season fails
The lotfeeding sector in Australia has had a strong start to the year, with its importance in the industry being again highlighted by the varying seasonal challenges facing producers. Cattle on feed and feedlot utilisation were at record highs for the March 2025 quarter, according to the latest Meat & Livestock Australia lotfeeding brief. However, […]
Northern needs support for restocker returns
The market was only headed in one direction this week, and that was down. Last week ended up being a record for yardings, so numbers did drop this week, but all indicators still lost ground. Rain still alludes many in the south, while the latest slaughter data showed Queensland figures down nearly 9000 head week-on-week, […]
Market loses ground as autumn break still missing
The week started with a record number of cattle yarded at Wagga Wagga, with 8731 put through the ring on Monday. This followed on from the third-largest AuctionsPlus cattle offering on record last Friday, and the Wagga yards are again full today with store cattle going under the hammer. So, it comes as little surprise […]
Slaughter set to swell?
Winter is right around the corner, and historically, we start to see an increase in weekly cattle slaughter figures from here on out. Domestic seasonal conditions and international trade continue to impact the market this year, but as always, the supply side of the equation will play one of the biggest roles as we head […]
Strength remains in the market post-holidays
A swag of public holidays means we haven’t recapped the cattle market for three weeks, but there has been limited movement across most indicators in that period. Rain is still eluding many producers in the south, and the assessment of actual losses from flooding in the north is still underway, which means most of the […]
