Weekly cattle and sheep market wrap

11 Sep 2026

Key points

National cattle yardings remained steady week-on-week at 53,782 head.
All lamb and mutton indicators, except the Light Lamb Indicator, eased on last week’s results.
Tasmanian lamb slaughter recorded a sharp increase.

Cattle market

The national cattle yarding lifted week-on-week to 61,202 head with most indicators trending upwards.

The National Young Cattle Indicator (NYCI) remained lifted at 533¢/kg liveweight (lwt) across an offering of 21,238 head.

Online sales increased this week and continued to have a significant presence in the market. NSW online sales maintained high prices to average above 592¢/kg lwt.

The Restocker Yearling Heifer price lifted 1% WoW and 13% YoY, making it the highest yearly performer across all indicators this week. The lowest performer was the Feeder Heifer Indicator, dropping 2% WoW.

Queensland formed the largest portion of saleyard contributors with Roma Saleyards increasing 3% on last week’s yarding. The largest change in weekly yarding was noted at Gunnedah lifting by 1,620 head WoW.

Sheep market

The national lamb yarding jumped 9% week-on-week (WoW) to 154,852 head. Indicators suggested restocker lambs helped drive the increase. National mutton yarding lifted a further 5% WoW to 59,143 head and brought the total national yarding to 213,995 head.

The Restocker Lamb Indicator recorded the largest decline and fell 3% WoW, while the Mutton Indicator had the largest lift WoW, rising 7¢/kg cwt.

Wagga Wagga was the largest contributor to both the Restocker Lamb and Mutton Indicators, providing more than 20% of the animals yarded for each. Total head count lifted to 53,228 head.

The Light Lamb Indicator lifted 1% on last week’s result to reach 1,104¢/kg carcase weight (cwt) and was up 7% year-on-year. Other major saleyard contributors included; Dubbo (2,629 head), Forbes (2,224 head) and Katanning (1,139 head).

Slaughter

Week ending 11 September 2026

Cattle

National cattle slaughter numbers decreased 2% WoW to 143,675 head. WA recorded the largest spike as numbers increased 5% to 4,065 head.

Tasmania experienced the largest decline down 53% to 1,793 head. NSW and Queensland slaughter remained stable.

State-by-state cattle slaughter (YoY):

NSW: down 8% to 32,516 head.
Queensland: down 4% to 78,080 head.
SA: up 3% to 3,868 head.
Tasmania: stable at 1,793 head.
Victoria: down 9% to 23,353 head.
WA: up 12% to 4,065 head.

Sheep

National lamb slaughter fell 2% over the week to 360,315 head as mutton slaughter dropped to 111,186 head.

State-by-state lamb slaughter (YoY):

NSW: up 20% to 119,019 head.
Queensland: down 22% to 1,028 head
SA: down 12% to 36,462 head.
Tasmania: up 43% to 7,786 head.
Victoria: down 5% to 156,705 head.
WA: up 20% to 47,433 head.

Attribute content to: Natalie Bowles MLA Global Supply Analyst

Information is correct at time of publication on 11 September 2026.

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.