SALEYARDS in southern states have added extra sales to try and ease the number of livestock at regular sales, with the drought forcing an influx of cattle and sheep onto the market.

The Wagga Wagga Livestock Marketing Centre has had record numbers of cattle and sheep at its sales in the last month.

The ongoing drought has forced producers to sell stock they would normally hold onto according to Riverina Livestock Agent, Tim Drum.

“A lot of people have sold weaners that they wouldn’t normally sell until spring, that’s where the biggest numbers have come from,” he said.

“There’s been a fair number of cows too, cows that didn’t get in calf are the first to go.”

The largest yarding of cattle recorded at Wagga was in December 2023 with 7590 head.

But that record has been broken three times this year, twice in May, with a new record of 8690 head.

“The record being broken by another 1000 head, that’s unheard of. This time of year we typically only have 4000 cattle at the most and if we had a good autumn break it could be back to 2500 to 3000 typically,” said Mr Drum.

As a result of the larger yardings, Wagga agents added a monthly store sale in April to try and spread out the flow of cattle.

The next monthly store sale is on Friday 13 June.

“It would be a good thing if we can keep the monthly store sale going, it’s just another avenue but we will have to see if the numbers can keep up,” said Mr Drum.

“We used to have one years and years ago but probably haven’t had one in 15 years, maybe longer.”

Regional Livestock Exchanges runs 10 saleyards across New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland.

Its CEO Brett Freer said its Central Victoria Livestock Exchange was holding a one-off cattle sale this Friday, 30 May, with 5000 head expected.

“Over the past three months, record yardings have been reported across major store sale centres, including Mortlake (Western Victoria Livestock Exchange (WVLX)), Carcoar (Central Tablelands Livestock Exchange (CTLX)), and Barnawatha (Northern Victoria Livestock Exchange (NVLX)),” he said.

“In the prime cattle market, WVLX and NVLX continue to demonstrate solid performance, maintaining consistent yardings and buyer support.

“Ballarat (Central Victoria Livestock Exchange (CVLX)) is showing signs of becoming a major player in the prime space, regularly yarding over 1,000 head per sale and Shepparton (Goulburn Valley Livestock Exchange (GVLX)) has posted strong yardings that are well above long-term averages.”

WVLX has yarded over 50,000 head in prime sales and 49,000 in store sales so far this year.

While NVLX has had 34,000 prime and 59,000 store cattle yarded this year.

Record sheep sales

Wagga also had a new record of sheep yarded this year, with the ongoing drought forcing producers to destock.

According to MLA the previous record for sheep at Wagga was close to 80,0000 in November 2022, but in April 80,050 sheep were yarded comprised of 51,050 lambs and 29,000 mutton.

Mr Drum said despite the large yardings the prices for sheep have held up.

“Because there’s a lack of numbers in the south from the extended dry period for probably 18 months longer than us, prices have remained pretty strong,” he said.

“But I think we are through the big numbers of sheep because there has been some really big kill numbers through the abattoirs in the last two years, there’s been a lot of ewes that would normally have been lambed out, have been sold and killed because they don’t have the feed for them.”

Mr Drum also believed the record yardings of cattle were over, with last week’s rain easing numbers to 4300 today.

“I don’t think we will see the 8000 yardings again, even if it doesn’t rain it might be 6000,” he said.

Saleyards pivotal in drought

Saleyards Australia Executive Officer, Amy Perfrement highlighted the importance of saleyards during droughts, not only for livestock health but also producers’ mental health.

“Saleyards are a vital part of the livestock supply chain, and their importance becomes even more evident during times of drought, when producers need a timely and practical option to sell stock,” she said.

“What is sometimes overlooked is the role saleyards play as important community hubs, a place where producers, agents, and others in the industry can come together to chat and share a cuppa.

“That sense of connection can make a real difference to mental health and wellbeing during prolonged hardship.”

Ms Perfrement said moving the record numbers of sheep and cattle out of the drought affected south taken a whole of industry effort.

“From agents and saleyard staff to transport operators, it’s a coordinated effort that highlights the critical economic and social value saleyards bring to rural Australia,” she said.

Slaughter volumes rise

Australia’s red meat sector has recorded a significant lift in cattle and lamb slaughter volumes in the first quarter of 2025, with producers responding to varied seasonal conditions across the country, according to MLA.

Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics has revealed that cattle slaughter reached 2.2 million head for the quarter, up 2 percent from Q4 2024 and 20pc higher year-on-year.

This marks the largest quarterly cattle slaughter in Victoria since 1979, and in New South Wales since 2015, with volumes lifting 5pc and 7pc respectively.

South Australia also recorded its highest quarterly cattle slaughter since 2017, up 16pc, driven by tough seasonal conditions prompting early turnoff.

Queensland’s cattle slaughter rate eased by 2pc, reflecting improved seasonal conditions that allowed producers to retain stock longer.

Western Australia saw a 4pc decline, while Tasmania lifted 4pc.

The female slaughter rate rose to 52.7pc, indicating elevated female turnoff, particularly in South Australia and Victoria.

However, according to MLA’s Market Information Manager, Stephen Bignell, this is not indicative of widespread herd liquidation across the country.

“The elevated female slaughter rate reflects regional responses to seasonal pressures, particularly in the south where a prolonged and expanding drought is impacting numbers,” Mr Bignell said.

Beef production rose 3pc to 679,000 tonnes, with South Australia recording the largest lift at 16pc.

National average carcase weights increased by 1.5kg to 313kg, supported by growth in lot feeding and earlier turnoff of heifers.

The value of cattle production hit $4.41 billion for the quarter, with the average value per head rising 3pc to $2,029.

National average price per tonne was $6.49, with South Australia leading at $6.98/tonne.

Lamb

Lamb slaughter surged to 6.86 million head, the second-highest quarterly figure on record, up 12pc from the previous quarter and slightly above year-ago levels.

Victoria led the charge, processing a record 3.83 million head, while New South Wales lifted 27pc to 1.48 million head. Only Western Australia saw a decline, down 6pc, though volumes remained above the five-year average.

Lamb production reached 166,800 tonnes, up 18pc from Q4 2024, with Victoria producing a record 91,600 tonnes. National average lamb carcase weights rose to 24.3kg, with South Australia leading at 26.1kg.

Sheep

Sheep slaughter totalled 3 million head, a 14pc decline on the previous quarter though remained 7pc above year-ago levels.

While Victoria saw a year-on-year decline, most state turnoff lifted above year ago levels staying high following record turnoff in late 2024. Mutton production reached 74,700 tonnes, which was the third-highest quarterly volume in a decade.

The gross value of sheep and lamb slaughtered in Australia lifted once again across all states to an impressive $1.58 billion. This is likely due to an increase in throughput and production, however markets remained relatively strong in the first quarter despite the elevated supply.