Rainfall across south-east Queensland impacted yardings, however, may have also lifted confidence as the Restocker Yearling Heifer price lifted 13¢ to 275¢/kg liveweight (lwt).

Prices and yardings were supported by the monthly weaner sales in Blackall, making up over 40% of yardings. Quality and demand through NSW yards resulted in the state’s indicator average reaching almost 30¢ above national prices at 303¢/kg lwt.

Processor cow prices have flattened out, with throughput down 774 head to 6,864 head over the week. The indicator price lifted 4¢ to 269¢/kg carcase weight (cwt). The elevated markets in Queensland and NSW prompted strength in the indicator; however, the southern states of Victoria, SA and Tasmania have seen consecutive weeks of price easing, likely due to quality being impacted by feed availability.

Slaughter

Week ending 25 October 2024

Cattle slaughter lifted slightly after the impressive results seen last week. National figures rose 1,531 head to a total processing of 145,337, the largest kill week since January 2020 and more in line with 2019 weekly averages. Year-to-date, cattle slaughter is tracking 14% above 2023 rates. Most states remained relatively stable week-on-week, with numbers shifting between 0–7%.

Queensland maintained throughput, up 1%, once again reaching the state’s largest slaughter since late 2019 at 77,467. There were increases in NSW (34,958), and SA (3,566) and slight reductions seen across Tasmania (4,303), Victoria (22,318), and WA (2,725), with national figures remaining stable.

Erin Lukey is a Senior Market Information Analyst with MLA.