Weekly cattle and sheep wrap

22 Aug 2025

Key points

The cattle market remained strong, thanks to general strength and firm restocker demand.
Lamb prices have reduced after recent strong gains.
Cattle slaughter eased, driven by Queensland declines and despite strong WA throughput.

Cattle market

The cattle market lifted with increases between 5¢ and 27¢ across indicators, excluding The Processor Cow Indicator which eased just under 1¢. NSW supply was rain-constrained, contributing to a national yarding drop of 12% to 60,487 head.

The National Restocker Indicators saw the highest increases – up 17¢ for steers and 27¢ for heifers. NSW restockers drove competition, demonstrating the favourable pasture conditions

The Processor Cow Indicator eased slightly to end the week at 355¢/kg liveweight (lwt) with the largest drop in Victoria (-8¢), followed by WA (-4¢) and NSW (-2¢). Yardings dropped by 1,507 to 8,341 head. Despite the national price easing, there was interest in good quality heavy cows at Dalby, resulting in prices lifting 12¢.

Sheep market

The sheep market continued to ease except for the Restocker Lamb Indicator. Reductions in both lamb and sheep yardings resulted in a combined yardings ease of 26,994 to 266,071.

The Heavy Lamb Indicator declined 23¢ to 1,156¢/kg carcase weight (cwt), reducing after record prices in the last two weeks. Cowra (-83¢) and Carcoar (-79¢) experienced the largest NSW price dips. Market reports indicated presented lambs lacked weight and quality was mixed - potentially driving the heavier lamb prices.

New season lambs are in full swing, but many producers are trying to sell lighter lambs – likely wanting to clear supply and capitalise on the market. This led to an ease of 40¢ to 929¢/kg cwt for the Light Lamb Indicator. Cold weather out of Hamilton eased prices by 140¢, driven by a lamb quality drop.

Slaughter

Week ending 15 August 2025

Cattle slaughter

National cattle slaughter fell 6% week-on-week (WoW) to 146,610 head but throughput remains 9% above year-ago levels. Queensland drove the national drop, down 7% to 74,009 head. Smaller declines were recorded in NSW, Victoria and Tasmania, while WA was the only state to lift, up 24% WoW.

State-by-state breakdown of cattle slaughter:

· NSW down 4% to 35,579

· Queensland down 9% to 74,009

· SA stable at 3,823

· Tasmania down 24% to 3,603

· Victoria down 3% to 25,616

· WA up 24% to 3,980.

Sheep slaughter

Combined sheep and lamb slaughter eased slightly to 480,504 head. National lamb slaughter lifted 3% to 342,205 head but mutton throughput fell 6% to 138,299 head. Overall, volumes remain well below year-ago levels, with lamb (-17%) and mutton (-11%).

State-by-state breakdown of lamb slaughter:

· NSW up 1% to 108,494

· Queensland down 2% to 1,252

· SA down 5% to 15,463

· Tasmania up 15% to 5,213

· Victoria up 4% to 182,486

· WA up 6% to 29,297.

Attribute content to Emily Tan, MLA Market Information Analyst

Information is correct at publishing on 22 August 2025.

MLA makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness or currency of any information contained in this publication. Your use of, or reliance on, any content is entirely at your own risk and MLA accepts no liability for any losses or damages incurred by you as a result of that use or reliance. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the prior written consent of MLA. All use of MLA publications, reports and information is subject to MLA’s Market Report and Information Terms of Use.