RATES of beef slaughter across Australia have declined sharply for a second consecutive week, as the impact of recent rain on meatworks cattle supply takes full effect.

The seven-day slaughter statistics for the week ended Friday, released by NLRS this afternoon,  show a national tally of just 131,713 head, down a further 8349 on the week before, and a massive 12,000 head or 15.4pc behind this same week last year.

As Beef Central reported yesterday, direct consignment slaughter cattle rates have risen 20c/kg in many plants in Queensland this week due to the supply challenge, but many are resigned to tight supply for the remainder of the 2026 processing season. Some large Queensland export plants are already looking at four-day working weeks for the remainder of the year to try to spread available supply.

Weekly adult cattle kill – NLRS

There has been a distinct downwards trend in national weekly slaughter volume since late May, with no real sign yet of a spring turnaround.

National slaughter over the past eight weeks has averaged just over 140,000 head. Compared with 146,500 for the eight weeks prior to that – a 4.4pc decline, or about 10,000t, carton weight.

Queensland last week lost almost 6000 head on the week before, and 13,700 on numbers seen the week before that – recording a weekly adult cattle kill of 64,792 head, down 20pc year-on-year.

New South Wales dropped 1000 head last week and 2300 on a fortnight ago, to finished last week on 32,142 head, down 10.5pc on last year.

The trend in Victoria was similar, with the flow of northern cattle to plants in the south now appearing to be over for the year. Victoria’s kill last week was down 1176 head on the week before, and 12pc behind this time last year.

As covered in yesterday’s weekly kill report, a number of large Queensland export plants are dropping at least one production day this week, as the impact of earlier rain lingers. JBS Dinmore did not operate Monday, and the same applies further north.

One large southern Queensland export plant is now looking at the prospect of four-day weeks until Christmas closure, around 18 December.

“It’s survival mode now for what’s left of the year. Bring on Christmas,” was the comment from one regular Queensland slaughter cattle buyer contact yesterday.