Weekly cattle and sheep market wrap

10 Oct 2025

Key points

National cattle yardings were affected by Monday’s public holiday, with NSW recording the sharpest decline.
The Restocker Yearling Heifer indicator dropped 22¢/kg lwt, while Restocker Yearling Steers lifted 9¢/kg lwt.
Sheep and lamb slaughter eased 8%, impacted by a NSW processor shutdown.

Cattle market

National cattle yardings declined 21% week-on-week (WoW) to 58,894 head − largely due to Monday’s public holiday affecting saleyard operations in NSW, Queensland and SA. The closures of markets in Forbes, Tamworth and Wagga contributed to yarding declines in NSW (-37%) and Queensland (-16%).

Despite reduced supply, most cattle indicators softened. The Restocker Yearling Heifer Indicator fell 22¢ to 377¢/kg lwt with more active lot feeders than restockers. While top-quality heifers remained in demand, mixed-quality offerings affected prices.

In an unsettled week, the Restocker Yearling Steer Indicator lifted 9¢ to 471¢/kg lwt, driven by tighter supply and continued backgrounding demand in northern markets. The Queensland markets rose 21¢ WoW to 467¢/kg lwt, rebounding from a 24¢ drop last week, and offsetting a 26¢ fall in NSW this week.

Sheep market

National sheep and lamb yardings fell 4% WoW, with sheep yardings down 20% in NSW due to the public holiday and the Dubbo market closure. This decline was partially offset by a 55% lift in Victorian yardings, including an additional 15,000 head at Bendigo. Strong buyer presence at Victorian centres helped sustain demand and pricing, with Bendigo recording a record – topping $8 million in total sales.

The market was mixed, with most of the indicators softening, but the Light Lamb Indicator lifted 3¢/kg cwt to 1,054 ¢/kg cwt. Despite the gradual increase of new season lambs and the light lamb supply lifting to 26,976 heads, well-finished lambs drove demand from usual buyers, increasing competition and maintaining firm prices.

The price surge last week attracted more supply and increased this week's yardings in key markets. The trade lamb yardings increased by 8,762 heads to 49,440 heads, which impacted the indicator easing 19¢ to 1,138 ¢/kg cwt. In the Wagga market, trade lambs were sold up to $24 cheaper than the previous week.

Slaughter

Week ending 3 October 2025

Cattle Slaughter

National cattle slaughter rose 1% to 149,149 head, sitting 5% above the 2025 weekly average. Throughput increased in NSW (+2% to 35,077 head) and Victoria (+10% to 24,215 head), offsetting a 1% decline in Queensland. Year-to-date, national cattle slaughter is tracking 9% above the same period in 2024.

State-by-state breakdown of cattle slaughter:

NSW: up 2% to 35,077
Queensland: down 1% to 78,906
SA: up 9% to 3,818
Tasmania: up 15% to 4,130
Victoria: up 10% to 24,215
WA: down 21% to 3,003.

Sheepmeat slaughter

National sheep and lamb throughput dropped 8% to 493,326 head, driven by a large NSW plant’s maintenance shutdown which reduced NSW throughput 26% and outweighed increases in other states − notably Victoria (+3% to 227,086 head). WA also reduced 9% to 73,763 head after the previous week recorded the highest week throughput since June.

National lamb slaughter eased 8% to 342,245 head, driven by 34% drop in NSW to 67,491 head due to processing plant’s maintenance work. WA also experienced a 10% lower throughput to 45,607 lambs after recording the highest week since June. Victoria was up 3% to 178,249 after the September dip.

Sheep slaughter eased 6% to 151,081 head, after the previous week also recorded the highest throughput week since June. NSW sheep processing volumes dropped 14% WoW but remained above the September average. Victoria (+4%) and Tasmania (+48%) were the only states to record weekly increases.

State-by-state breakdown of lamb slaughter:

NSW: down 34% to 67,491
Queensland: up 11% to 1,383
SA: steady to 41,460
Tasmania: up 72% to 8,055
Victoria: up 3% to 178,249
WA: down 10% to 45,607.

Information is correct at the time of publishing on 10 October 2025.

Attribute to: Emiliano Diaz, MLA Market Information Analyst

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