Weekly cattle and sheep market wrap

06 Feb 2026

Key points

Supply surged following numerous saleyard market closures last week due to extreme heat and the Australia Day public holiday.
Cattle prices remained steady but the sheep market dropped.
Slaughter declined week-on-week (WoW) across all species.

Cattle market

All National Livestock Reporting Service (NLRS) saleyards presented significantly higher yardings this week. Despite the increased supply, prices were stable under pressure. Seasonal conditions across large parts of NSW have deteriorated over the past four consecutive months, with below to very much below average rainfall received.

There was a high number of cow and calf units sold at Dubbo, while significant numbers of calves straight off cows were offered at Wagga.

The National Young Cattle Indicator was steady WoW at 450¢/kg liveweight (lwt). The Eastern Young Cattle Indicator was also mostly stable at 842¢/kg carcase weight (cwt). The Processor Cow Indicator dropped 5¢ WoW to 361¢/kg lwt.

Sheep market

Domestic buying demand was erratic, particularly across southern NSW and Victorian markets. Feedlot buying underpinned trade category prices. Mutton buyers sought very heavy lines this week.

The Mutton Indicator was steady at 766¢/kg cwt, while the National Trade Lamb Indicator declined 27¢ to 1,108¢/kg cwt.

Slaughter

Week ending 30 January 2026

Cattle slaughter

Cattle slaughter declined WoW – down to 124,662 head − due to the Australia Day public holiday. Supplies, however, are still holding above 2024 and 2025 levels.

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

NSW: up 3% to 29,911
Queensland: down 4% to 61,683
SA: up 29% to 3,837
Tasmania: down 8% to 4,114
Victoria: up 13% to 22,028
WA: up 69% to 3,089.

Sheep slaughter

Lamb slaughter reached 367,629 head − again lower WoW due to the public holiday. Numbers for 2026 are, so far, consistently around 55,000 head (or 13%) lower than 2025 levels.

Mutton slaughter decreased across most states, down approximately 20,000 head nationally to138,360 head. Mutton slaughter remains 21% lower YoY.

State-by-state breakdown of lamb slaughter YoY:

NSW: down 5% to 103,034
Queensland: down 33% to 918
SA: down 32% to 35,134
Tasmania: up 18% to 9,279
Victoria: down 16% to 178,267
WA: up 2% to 40,997.

Attribute content to: Stephanie Pitt, MLA NLRS Manager.

Information is correct at time of publication on 6 February 2026.

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