online summary

The cattle market generally lifted this week with strong processor demand for weaner cattle. Yardings increased by 7,027 to 24,547 head which is expected for the beginning of the year.

As the new year unfolds, both the cattle and sheep markets show signs of an upswing, marking a positive start after the Christmas break.

The weekly National Livestock Reporting Service (NLRS) slaughter report remained an important resource in 2023, producing weekly reports on slaughter figures gathered voluntarily from processors across the country.

The cattle market eased this week. With Christmas at our doorstep, some key saleyards have closed for the year and will start up in the new year. Market reports states key buyers and processors were not operating thus entering a cheaper market compared to the previous week. Cattle yardings dropped by 75,112 to 7,452 head, however such a significant decline is expected given the time of year.

The Australian sheep flock is the largest it has been since 2007, this is attributed to a focus on flock productivity and coming off three prosperous seasons. This record flock size, combined with announcements of a poor seasonal outlook in 2024 has resulted in record yardings through saleyards in 2023.

As Australian red meat supply picks up, MLA is supporting exporters and levy payers to capitalise on the positive trading conditions in North America.

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.

The cattle market eased this week, with the nearing Christmas shutdowns causing a slight dip in the number of buyers and processors attending sales compared to the previous week. Cattle yardings fell by 20,615 to 77,881 head, but despite the significant week-on-week drop, this was the second largest week of the year in terms of yardings.

The sheep and lamb industry faced unprecedented challenges during 2023 and market confidence was shaken at various points, creating substantial movements in indicator pricing throughout the year.