Weekly cattle and sheep market wrap

21 Aug 2026

Key points

The Feeder Steer Indicator lifted 22¢ compared to week-ago levels.
Cattle yardings continue to fall, hitting their lowest since February this year.
Victorian lamb slaughter lifted by 28,000 head week-on-week.

Lower cattle yardings supported increases across most indicators this week, with young cattle throughput reaching its lowest level since May. Lamb slaughter increased significantly, led by a rise in Victorian processing numbers.

Cattle market

Nearly all cattle indicators tipped higher this week on the back of reduced saleyard throughput. Yardings of young cattle across the country were the lowest since May 2026.

The Feeder Steer Indicator lifted 22¢/kg liveweight (lwt) week-on-week, sitting 9% higher than year ago levels at 506¢/kg lwt.

The National Young Cattle Indicator (NYCI) increased by 6¢/kg lwt, sitting 4% higher than year-ago levels at 480¢/kg carcase weight (cwt).

The Heavy Steer Indicator also recorded a lift, rising 12¢/kg lwt week-on-week, although the increase was underpinned by very low supply.

Cattle from Roma saleyards accounted for 33% of the indicator. The Roma market report noted increased buying activity from additional southern buyers, signalling ongoing demand for cattle in southern regions amid favourable seasonal conditions despite a reduced yarding.

Cattle yardings continued to fall for the fourth consecutive week, totalling 51,468 head (the lowest since February this year). Charters Towers and Dalby recorded declines of 1,173 and 1,032 respectively. Southern yards such as Mortlake and Wagga Wagga lifted 1,923 and 1,260 respectively.

Sheep market

Most sheep indicators remained firm to slightly down week-on-week.

The Restocker Lamb Indicator achieved 1,095 c/kg cwt, up 7% on year-ago levels.

The Trade Lamb Indicator achieved 1,158 c/kg cwt, up 2% on year-ago levels.

The Heavy Lamb Indicator achieved 1,099c/kg cwt, down 2% on year-ago levels.

Sheep yardings lifted slightly week-on-week with lambs and sheep achieving 149,760 and 49,393 head respectively. Yards that recorded the largest increases were Dubbo, Bendigo, Wagga, Forbes and Yass. Only two saleyards – Warwick and Muchea – recorded decreases week-on-week.

Slaughter

Week ending 14 August

Cattle

Cattle slaughter continued its downward trajectory since the back end of May, achieving 147,583, equal to year-on-year levels. Queensland numbers fell by 5,858 head, in contrast to NSW, where slaughter lifted by 3,993 head.

State-by-state cattle slaughter (YoY):

NSW: up 1% to 36,018 head
Queensland: firm at 74,212 head
SA: up 1% to 3,860 head
Tasmania: up 20% to 4,327 head
Victoria: down 2% to 25,057 head
WA: up 3% to 4,109 head.

Sheep

Lamb slaughter reached 375,442 head, with Victoria driving the lift of 28,000 compared to the previous week. SA conversely decreased by 19,105 head.

Mutton slaughter continued to rise slightly, lifting 3,615 compared to the week prior. However, numbers remain well below year-ago levels, down 27%.

State-by-state lamb slaughter (YoY):

NSW: up 13% to 122,665 head
Queensland: down 20% to 1,008 head
SA: up 7% to 16,519 head
Tasmania: up 19% to 6,214 head
Victoria: up 2% to 186,495 head
WA: up 45% to 42,541 head.

Attribute to: Stuart Bull, MLA Market Information Manager

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