Rain Boosts Australian Livestock Markets
Recent rainfall across eastern and southern Australia lifted restocker confidence and supported stronger cattle and lamb prices despite varied supply movements.
Rainfall Lifts Livestock Market Confidence Across Australia
Australian cattle and sheep markets have seen a noticeable shift in momentum this week, following rainfall across key grazing regions in the eastern and southern states. The improved seasonal outlook encouraged producers to hold stock and rebuild herds and flocks, lifting competition for restocking animals and pushing several price indicators higher.
Cattle Market Trends (Australia)
National cattle yardings fell by 7% to around 58,000 head as producers in major cattle states—including Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria—responded to improved pasture prospects. With grass returning across parts of the east, producers were less inclined to sell and more prepared to retain animals.
Victoria saw the steepest weekly decline in cattle yardings, dropping by nearly one-third. Queensland and Western Australia also recorded softer supply, while New South Wales recorded an increase due to recovery from low offerings the previous week.
Tighter supply and renewed restocker enthusiasm strengthened prices:
Restocker Yearling Steer Indicator: +16¢ to 484¢/kg liveweight, driven largely by Victorian buyers sourcing cattle from northern selling centres.
Processor Cow Indicator: +16¢ to 398¢/kg liveweight, with pronounced gains in Victoria and New South Wales, even as more cows came to market.
These movements reflect strong interest from both restockers and processors, signalling more confidence in herd rebuilding across Australia’s cattle regions.
Sheep and Lamb Market (Australia)
National sheep yardings rose 6% to more than 101,000 head, still below the typical October average. Lamb yardings also increased as the flow of new season lambs continued in southern states, particularly Victoria and South Australia.
Recent rainfall boosted restocker optimism in these regions:
Light Lamb Indicator: +18¢ to 1,045¢/kg cwt, supported by strong export processor demand.
Restocker Lamb Indicator: +26¢ to 1,116¢/kg cwt, with the largest weekly gains seen in South Australia (+60¢) and Victoria (+58¢).
Market reports from selling centres such as Wagga, New South Wales, highlighted particularly strong competition for well-finished lambs above 20kg carcase weight.
Slaughter Activity Across Australian States
National cattle slaughter fell 2% to about 155,600 head, reflecting weather-related disruptions primarily in Queensland and Victoria. Despite the decline, kill levels remain above long-term averages, indicating continued strong processor demand.
Sheep and lamb slaughter edged 1% higher to 633,973 head as processing capacity stabilized nationwide.
Lamb slaughter held steady overall, with Victoria increasing throughput while New South Wales and Queensland saw reductions.
Sheep slaughter rose 3%, consistent with seasonal offloading of older or dry ewes, particularly in New South Wales and Western Australia.
Attribution: Market analysis by Emiliano Diaz, MLA Market Information Analyst.
Source: https://www.mla.com.au/news-and-events/industry-news/7112025weekly-cattle-and-sheep-market-wrap/