National saleyard supply declines in the 2022 financial year
07 July 2022
Key points:
- National cattle supply fell by 7% in the 2021–22 financial year as producers drive tight supply due to significant rebuilding intentions.
- Sheep supply in NSW rose by 4.5% in the 2021–22 financial year as flock growth across the largest sheep state was felt throughout the saleyards.
- Overall sheep supply across the nation fell by 5.1%, most notably in Victoria, the country’s second largest sheep state.
Saleyard transactions have not been immune to lower supply throughout the supply chain in 2021–22, with favourable seasonal conditions across most parts of Australia fuelling producers’ intentions to rebuild cattle herds and grow their sheep flocks.
Reported national cattle saleyard supply from the National Livestock Reporting Service (NLRS) for the 2021–22 financial year decreased 147,321 head to 1,975,486 head. Although most states’ supply decreased, NSW recorded higher transactions across all reported saleyards, up 29,031 head to 642,931 head.
- QLD recorded 817,943 head, back 73,399 head
- SA recorded 75,780 head, back 21,928 head
- Tasmania recorded 4,434 head, back 1,475 head
- Victoria recorded 307,775 head, back 63,590 head
- WA recorded 126,643 head, back 15,960 head
Reported national sheep and lamb saleyard throughput for the 2021–22 financial year decreased 671,740 head, to 12,287,382 head. The lower supply was felt across both sheep and lamb categories, with 3,283,498 head of sheep and 9,025,384 head of lambs yarded.
Again, higher supply in NSW was noted, a total of 6,562,527 head was recorded in NSW, up 281,448 head. The higher sheep and lamb supply in NSW was driven by Dubbo, Guyra, IRLX Inverell, SELX Yass, TRLX Tamworth and Wagga Wagga.
- QLD (Warwick only) recorded 60,315 head, up 393 head
- SA recorded 844,120 head, back 201,074 head
- Tasmania recorded 116,768 head, back 41,815 head
- Victoria recorded 3,862,922 head, back 444,550 head
- WA recorded 840,730 head, back 266,142 head.
