Weekly cattle and sheep market wrap

13 Feb 2026

Key points

Cattle supply decreased as producers hope for rain to boost market demand.
Domestic processors showed caution in sheep and lamb markets.
Cattle slaughter lifted across all states.

Cattle market

National cattle yardings decreased 12% this week to 68,049 head. The decrease was significant across NSW (down 22%), SA (down 27%), and WA (down 21%), while the other states remained stable. Producers are holding back cattle supply in the hope that predicted rain in NSW and Queensland comes to fruition over the coming days.

A significant offering of 756 heavy Processor Cows (520kg+) were present at Roma, selling to a top of 765¢/kg carcase weight (cwt) and averaging 718¢/kg cwt.

The Eastern Young Cattle Indicator lifted 13¢ week-on-week (WoW) to 854¢/kg cwt. The National Young Cattle Indicator lifted 6¢ to 456¢/kg liveweight (lwt). The Processor Cow Indicator fell slightly by 4¢ WoW to 358¢/kg lwt.

Sheep market

National sheep yardings decreased 18% to 94,869 this week. The drop was largely driven by a significant 58% decline in the Forbes yarding. National lamb yardings increased 4% to 228,189 head.

The Restocker Lamb Indicator lifted 21¢ to 1,125¢/kg cwt. Prices were positive across the states except for Victoria, which saw a drop of 16¢/kg cwt.

The Wagga market report indicated domestic processors remained selective throughout the sale, with feedlots and restockers making up the main source of demand – particularly across lightweight categories.

The Trade Lamb Indicator remained stable at 1,108¢/kg cwt. The Mutton Indicator fell slightly by 4¢ to 755¢/kg cwt.

Slaughter

Week ending 6 February 2026

Cattle slaughter

Cattle slaughter increased across all states, resulting in national cattle slaughter lifting to 158,525 head.

State-by-state breakdown of cattle slaughter year-on-year (YoY):

NSW: up 6.3% to 37,104 head
Queensland: up 15.8% to 81,678 head
SA: up 4.5% to 3,846 head
Tasmania: up 3.9% to 5,103 head
Victoria: up 13.3% to 26,982 head
WA: up 54.6% to 3,815 head.

Sheep slaughter

Lamb slaughter totalled 447,400 head, an increase of 79,671 head on last week.

Mutton slaughter increased across most states, up 28,746 head nationally to 167,124 head. Mutton slaughter remains 25% lower YoY.

State-by-state breakdown of lamb slaughter YoY:

NSW: down 5.8% to 114,639
Queensland: down 28.2% to 1,008
SA: down 37.8% to 37,436
Tasmania: up 7% to 11,020
Victoria: down 9.2% to 227,626
WA: up 8.4% to 55,571.

Attribute content to: Alex Fry, MLA Market Information Analyst.

Information is correct at time of publication 13 February 2026.

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