DESPITE a few cattle now being held back by vendors until July delivery for tax reasons, last week’s national beef kill hit another five-year record at 153,442 head.

The number was up about 7200 on the previous week, but that number was impacted by public holidays in some states.

With slaughter cattle now flowing smoothly out of northern and Central Australia, it suggests that the industry’s 2025 operating capacity (based on the NLRS sample, which excludes about 15pc of national kill from processors who choose not to offer data) is likely to tap-out at around 155,000 head.

Processing labour challenges continue to limit production beyond that figure, but at least it is a step up from last year’s upper weekly production limit around 140,000-142,000 head.

Southern states processing numbers remain sharply higher than this time last year, but at least part of that can be explained by active purchasing activity out of Central Australia, the Northern Territory and across a large expanse of Queensland’s tick-free country. Most of the focus is on slaughter cows, with some estimates suggesting $120-$160 a head to get northern cattle home for processing.

Victorian kills last week were up 16pc on the same week last year, while South Australia was 13pc higher. Compare that with Queensland (+6pc) and NSW (+7pc) and it’s evident that northern supply is a part of the equation – especially as local killable cattle are harder to find as a result of recent drought.

There’s no doubt that saleyards and paddock activity from the likes of AMG, Midfield, O’Connors, Throsby and others is helping underpin Queensland slaughter cattle prices at present, adding extra competition.

Despite the presence of southern competitors, Queensland turnoff is now back in full-swing, with some large export operators in both southern and central regions now heavily committed with direct consignment bookings until the start of August. Others still have some slots to fill in the back half of July.

Larger grainfed kills at many Queensland plants is inevitably taking some of the weekly grassfed supply challenge out of the equation.

Qld grids steady; some advances in southern states

There’s been little change in direct consignment grid prices across Eastern Australia since last week.

Export processors in the southern regions of Queensland have over-the-hooks offers today with four-tooth grass ox on 620-630c/kg, and heavy cows 550-560c/kg.

Central Queensland plants, still more heavily congested with bookings, have not yet followed suit. Processors in the CQ region are 520-530c/kg on heavy cows and 600-610c/kg on four-tooth heavy steer.

In southern states, there’s been small advances in some offers this week. Parts of southern NSW still have plenty of cattle already on the books. In eastern parts of South Australia, grids this week are showing 610c on heavy cows and 690c on four-tooth grass ox. Southern regions of NSW show best cows on 610c and four-tooth grass heavy steer 710c.A southern NSW specialist cow processor this week has heavy cows +300kg on 600c/kg and 590c on lighter cows +275kg, for delivery week commencing 7 July.

Saleyards trends higher

Gunnedah sale was well back in numbers this morning, yarding 1850 head. Southern processors joined the buying ranks. Trends improved for most categories with cows dearer throughout. Heavy score 3 and 4 cows were 11c to 16c/kg better selling from 253-332c/kg.

Wodonga sale today yarded only 800 head due to rain. The quality of the offering was mostly secondary with very few well finished types. The sale featured grain assisted  cows, which drew significant interest from buyers. Competition remained robust for all well-finished stock. On the export front, well-bred steers 500-600kg were primarily purchased by feedlots, with prices ranging from 418-440c/kg. Heavy steers sold from 350-390c/kg. Bullocks were few, achieving prices from 361-380c/kg. In the cow sale, grain-assisted cows attracted intense bidding, topping at 358c/kg and averaging 347c/kg. Leaner cows sold at more modest prices, ranging from 237-314c/kg.

Roma store sale this morning yard 8675 head, up about 500 from last week. A preliminary report (full details tomorrow) said the market was stronger by 10-15c/kg for most categories, although cows were yet to sell. Grown steers 500-600kg sold to 330c. Bullocks +600kg sold to 358c/kg.

There was only a small yarding of 530 mixed quality cattle at Naracoorte this morning, but export cattle values firmed. Cows sold 25c/kg stronger, with heavy descriptions from 285-366c, mediumweights from 227-260c.