Weekly cattle and sheep market wrap

30 Jan 2026

Key points

Numerous sales were cancelled due to high temperatures.
Indicator accuracy has been impacted by reduced sales.
Cattle slaughter is 2% higher year-on-year (YoY) despite unseasonal weather events.

Saleyard closure impacts

Extreme heat across eastern Australia led to the cancellation of several livestock markets as animal welfare was prioritised. As a result, no National Livestock Reporting Services (NLRS) market reports were produced for:

Mount Compass, SA
Naracoorte, SA
Griffith, NSW
Deniliquin, NSW
Inverell, NSW
Horsham, Victoria
Warwick, Queensland.

Yarding numbers were lower because these saleyards did not operate, causing less reliable market indicator results. This was compounded by Monday’s Australia Day public holiday, meaning regular Monday sales did not occur.

Cattle market

All cattle indicators declined this week due to the saleyard closures. The Processor Cow Indicator, Feeder Steer Indicator and Feeder Heifer Indicator all showed declines of up to 5,000 head which affected prices down as buyers were selective and quality was mixed. Indicators are expected to stabilise once a full seven days of data is available from the week beginning 9 February.

Sheep market

The lamb market lifted while the sheep market recorded declines. The Mutton Indicator recorded more than 30,000 fewer animals, while the Restocker Lamb Indicator fell by over 20,000 head.

Categories selling direct to slaughter − such as heavy, light and trade lambs − were less affected as these animals are less transacted through saleyards.

Due to reduced throughput, all lamb categories – excluding the restocker lamb – recorded price increases.

Slaughter

Week ending 23 January 2026

Cattle slaughter

A total of 143,640 head were processed – higher than both 2024 and 2025. Cattle slaughter is 2% higher YoY, suggesting strength in the current herd size and limited impact of northern flooding on processing numbers.

State-by-state breakdown of cattle slaughter:

NSW: down 8% at 34,247
Queensland: up 16% to 70,825
SA: down 2% to 3,760
Tasmania: up 1% to 5,063
Victoria: down 3% to 26,099
WA: down 9% at 3,646.

Sheep slaughter

Lamb slaughter reached 440,000 head, which is 40,000 head (or 10%) higher than the same period in 2024 but below last year’s 500, 000 head peak. These numbers, however, are consistent with slaughter levels seen at last year’s end.

Mutton slaughter remains below both 2024 and 2025 levels. A total of 158,000 head were processed, compared with 165,000 head in 2024 and 216,000 head in 2025 for the same period. This indicates producers are retaining breeding ewes due to current high prices.

State-by-state breakdown of lamb slaughter:

NSW: up 1% to 113,451
Queensland: up 12% to 1,448
SA: down 3% to 38,179
Tasmania: down 5% to 10,626
Victoria: up 2% to 226,509
WA: down 5% to 49,814.

AUD versus USD

The Australian Dollar has appreciated 5% against the US Dollar since the beginning of January – from 67¢ to 70¢. This may impact the competitiveness of Australian exports, reducing what processors are able to pay for stock further down the supply chain.

Next week, Meat & Livestock Australia will release the results of its 2025 Beef Producer Intentions Survey, and the Sheep Producer Intentions Survey will open.

Attribute content to: Stephen Bignell, MLA Manager – Market Information

Information is correct at the time of publishing on 30 January 2026.

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