NLRS Christmas closure: Saleyards wind down for the year

After a big year, the National Livestock Reporting Service (NLRS) will shut down for the Christmas period, returning in the first week of the new year.

Saleyards

Saleyards are now coming into their last week of sales, meaning reporting of prices will stop on 20 December and return when saleyards come back online in the new year. Most saleyards will be returning in the first two weeks of 2024.

In NSW, Guyra will host the first sheep sale on Wednesday, 3 January. Armidale and Yass will hold the first cattle sale on Thursday, 4 January. Giffith sheep and SLEX Yass cattle will also run in the first week of 2024, with other NSW saleyards back on board in week two.

The first Queensland sale will run in Blackall on Wednesday, 3 January. However, most QLD saleyards will return the following week.

Saleyards in Victoria will have a staggered start. The first sales of the year will be held on Wednesday, 3 January, in Hamilton (sheep) and Leongatha (cattle). The rest will commence over following weeks in January.

In South Australia, Mount Gambier will host cattle and sheep on Wednesday, 3 January, with the rest to follow in week two.

Tasmania’s Powranna will open on Tuesday, 9 January. In WA, Mt Barker will return on Thursday, 4 January, with Katanning and Muchea running the following week.

Find the full saleyard closure schedule here.

Slaughter

The final NLRS slaughter report will be published next Thursday, 21 December, covering the slaughter figures from the week of 11 December. It will return in the new year, covering processers as they come back online after the break.

2023 Yardings Report (Accurate to Friday, 15 December)

Cattle

Largest total yardings for the year (by saleyard):

1. Roma: 242,177
2. Dalby: 195,823
3. Dubbo: 187,617

Largest weekly yardings (by saleyard):

1. Roma, 9 May: 9,756
2. Roma, 25 July: 8,650
3. Roma, 4 July: 8,330

Largest weekly yardings (by week, overall):

1. Week of 10 December: 85,716
2. Week of 17 December: 73,036
3. Week of 7 May: 62,254

Sheep

Largest total yardings for the year (by saleyard):

1. Wagga: 644,100
2. Dubbo: 408,876
3. CVLX Ballarat: 385,425

Largest weekly yardings (by saleyard):

1. Wagga, 13 March: 40,000
2. Wagga, 11 December: 28,000
3. Wagga, 14 December: 27,400

Largest weekly yardings (by week, overall):

1. Week of 10 December: 152,700
2. Week of 12 March: 131,772
3. Week of 17 December: 128,598

Lamb

Largest total yardings for the year (by saleyard):

1. Wagga: 1,732,970
2. CVLX Ballarat: 1,119,313
3. Forbes: 923,280

Largest weekly yardings (by saleyard):

1. Hamilton, 14 December: 94,000
2. Hamilton, 11 December: 76,925
3. Hamilton, 4 December: 64,500

Largest weekly yardings (by week, overall):

1. Week of 17 December: 341,579
2. Week of 10 December: 294,368
3. Week of 29 October: 243,722