Capacity growth signals confidence in lotfeeding
A historically high cattle market has pushed cattle-on-feed numbers lower for the September quarter. Confidence in the sector has far from waned, however, with capacity, turn-off and grainfed exports all rising over the three month period. While utilisation also dipped from its record level set in the previous quarter, it remained on par with year […]
Restockers show support in the north
National cattle yardings jumped 13% week-on-week, unsurprisingly putting downward pressure on prices, but the market still showed a level of resilience considering the increase in throughput. Most categories dipped only between 3¢/kg and 9¢/kg, with restocker steers bucking the trend and closing the week stronger. The latest official Australian Bureau of Statistics slaughter figures released […]
SPIS shows less lambs left over
New data released in the past week from the Australian Bureau of Statistics and Meat and Livestock Australia/Australian Wool Innovation offers insight into how lamb throughput is tracking and what we might still have to come. All staying equal with demand, the supply equations the data suggests will be what dictates market movements most as […]
Lamb producers leap at lofty market
The sheep and lamb market continues to resist spring supply pressure, with all categories remaining historically high. Combined yardings hit their highest level since June this week as both restocker and trade lamb numbers rose significantly, offsetting a dip in sheep throughput. As producers look to capitalise on strong returns and get lambs off before […]
Hefty demand for heavy steers
Heavy steer demand has been on the rise this month, with the national price indicator climbing 9% in the past three weeks. Strong export demand is a major driver of this, as is improved confidence in domestic seasonal conditions. While slaughter remains historically high, the availability of heavy cattle has been impacted by southern seasonal […]
Buyers face off as market climb continues
Cattle yardings jumped significantly this week across all categories on the back of positive price signals, but demand held up, with most indicators climbing higher still. The Eastern Young Cattle Indicator reached its highest year-on-year premium for 2025 so far, while restocker yearling heifers are now 60¢/kg more than they were four weeks ago. There […]
Low flock leads to high priced heavies
The lamb market has so far powered through spring at record levels, as a seasonally contracted lamb crop and historically high demand keep the momentum going. This time last year, I wrote that heavy lambs were “red hot as season hinders supply”. That week in 2024, the National Heavy Lamb Indicator closed at 842¢/kg. Last […]
Lamb lifts despite market rush
Strong processor demand for new season lambs and rain falling in the southeast of the country put the lamb market in the green this week, with prices lifting across all categories despite yarding numbers also being on the up. Last week’s increase prompted an extra 11,600 sheep onto the market this week, but it didn’t […]
Season shores up cow price
With rain falling in parts of southern Australia in recent days, and more set to follow, there could be increased opportunity for restocker movement in the cattle market. It comes as we expect the other sectors, being feeders and processors, to take their foot off the gas, with reports that orders through to the end […]
Rain slows supply, restockers ramp up
Cattle yardings fell to their lowest levels in two months this week, which helped push prices higher right across the board. Rainfall over the past 10 days no doubt also boosted market competition, with restocker steers experiencing the largest upswing, but processor categories also made strong improvements. On the supply side, last week’s (latest figures […]
FTA fuels UK sheepmeat market
Australian sheep and lamb exports increased in September but remained subdued in relation to recent trends. The US took dominant market share for the month, and in fact, most markets increased their intake of Australian sheepmeat year-on-year. China, however, took much less, sending monthly volumes 22% lower compared to 2024, as they remains the biggest […]
NSW leads sheep and lamb demand
The sheep and lamb market showed some resilience this week as yardings backed off slightly but remained at their second-highest level since June. Merino lambs were the only major category to close lower, falling by close to 50¢/kg. NSW maintained a premium over national prices and showed the strongest demand. Nationally, 197,000 lambs were yarded […]