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27 January 2023
The Eastern Young Cattle Indicator (EYCI) had a relatively stable week this week after significant softening from pre-Christmas prices to 781.39c/kg carcase weight (cwt). The Western Young Cattle Indicator (WYCI) currently sits at a premium in comparison to the EYCI with the current rate at 857.25c/kg cwt.

27 January 2023
For the first time since 2016, mutton prices have dropped below $3/kg carcase weight, currently down 98c since the start of the year – a fall of 25%. In contrast, the Trade Lamb Indicator (TLI) has risen 4%, and the heavy lamb indicator is up 4.6% over the same time frame. Light lamb’s trajectory is following that of mutton – down 7%.

20 January 2023
For the first full market week of 2023, slaughter volumes across most categories improved strongly. This indicates a large supply of slaughter-weight animals as producers rebuild their flocks and herds. Week-on-week, cattle numbers have improved by 62%, or 31,300 head, indicating that stock held back due to weight gain performance are beginning to hit the market. Comparing year-on-year volumes, numbers are higher by 32%, or 19,500 head, indicating a strong start to 2023.

19 January 2023
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) released its annual 2021–22 Value of Agricultural Commodities data this week, highlighting the crucial role the Australian red meat industry plays in national commodities.

13 January 2023
In the first full week of cattle sales for 2023, the market delivered some valuable insights for producers and the industry more broadly.

08 December 2022
The sheep and lamb market has seen some ups and downs in 2022. As the year draws to a close, we take a look at the prices, yardings and slaughter over the past 12 months.

02 December 2022
November cattle yardings have come in at the highest monthly yardings in two years. The last time monthly yardings were above 220,000 head was in November 2020, when producers continued to liquidate numbers to rebuild balance sheets and capitalise on strong market prices. Yardings in November increased 49% on last month, showing how drier weather and cattle coming to market weights can influence numbers. This inevitably puts downward pressure on prices, as can be seen across all indicators.

29 November 2022
South Australia has a small farmed-goat industry, but its future has something the other states don’t have – the Royal Adelaide Show’s Led Goat Wether competition.

24 November 2022
Following the release of the September quarter slaughter and production data from ABS last week, MLA’s Market Insights team has compiled an in-depth analysis for red meat producers.

18 November 2022
The latest ABS slaughter and production data for the September quarter was released on Thursday. Here are some high-level takeaways ahead of a deeper analysis coming out soon.