Weekly cattle and sheep market wrap

24 Apr 2026

Key points

Another strong cattle yarding was driven by NSW.
All sheep market indicators fell over the week.
Weekly national cattle slaughter reached its highest level of the year.

The national cattle yarding has again been driven by NSW saleyards, with Dubbo breaking its yarding record for the second week in a row. All sheep market indicators fell over the week across a smaller offering. The full week allowed for processors to return to high levels of production, with weekly cattle slaughter being the highest of the year to date.

Cattle market

The national cattle yarding fell 9% week-on-week (WoW) but remained strong at 97,444 head. NSW saleyards drove the high national yarding once again, making up 59% of the total at 57,382 head. Dubbo broke a yarding record for the second week in a row at over 11,500 head.

All cattle indicators fell over the week, except for the Restocker Yearling Heifer Indicator which lifted 2% to 342¢/kg liveweight (lwt) across an offering of 5,357 head. Limited supply was available south of Scone, with the 473 head offered at Wagga achieving a strong price just under 400¢/kg lwt.

The Feeder Steer Indicator fell slightly by 0.5% WoW to 453.5¢/kg lwt across an offering of 6,758 head. The indicator has dropped by 5% over the last month.

Sheep market

The national lamb yarding fell by 15.7% WoW to 201,101 head and the mutton yarding lifted 10% to 92,650 head. All indicators fell over the week, from 2.5% for Heavy Lamb to 7% for Light Lamb.

The Restocker Lamb Indicator fell 4.5% to 1,162¢/kg carcase weight (cwt) across an offering of 43,695 head. The Victorian market achieved stronger results, with the indicator falling to 1,219.5¢/kg cwt across an offering of 6,335 head.

The Light Lamb Indicator fell 7% to 1,090¢/kg cwt across an offering of 12,934 head. Forbes made up 32% of the contribution for the category, achieving 1,122¢/kg cwt.

Slaughter

Week ending 17 April 2026

Cattle

National cattle slaughter lifted to 26% WoW to 164,883 head (+37% YoY), the highest level of weekly slaughter this year.

State-by-state cattle slaughter (YoY):

NSW: up 34% to 36,932 head
Queensland: up 40.5% to 87,223 head
SA: up 3% to 3,874 head
Tasmania: up 26% to 5,155 head
Victoria: up 42.5% to 28,087 head
WA: up 22.5% to 3,612 head.

Sheepmeat

Coming back after a shortened week, national lamb slaughter lifted 18% WoW to 422,213 head (+1% YoY) while national mutton slaughter lifted 13% WoW to 99,794 head (-39.5% YoY).

State-by-state lamb slaughter (YoY):

NSW: up 7.5% to 116,433 head
Queensland: down 15.5% to 1,158 head
SA: down 17% to 38,796 head
Tasmania: down 24% to 7,983 head
Victoria: down 3% to 195,921 head
WA: up 26% to 61,922 head.

Attribute content to: Alex Fry, MLA Market Information Analyst

Information is correct at time of writing on 24 April 2026.

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