Complete nationwide cattle yardings was simply over 409,000 head in March, and is sitting at about 294,000 head for April, with per week to go. That has already put this month above MLA’s two yr rolling common of 280,000 head. This week’s cattle yarding was 98% greater year-on-year, and 68% above the five-year-average. It’s nonetheless NSW driving the numbers, with the state making up simply shy of 60% of the yarding this week, and Dubbo within the central west reaching a brand new file yarding for the second consecutive week.
Unsurprisingly the continued provide strain pushed costs downward just about throughout the board this week, aside from restocker yearling heifers. The cow worth fell 25¢/kg and is now about 50¢/kg decrease than the place it sat a month in the past, and nearly 100¢/kg beneath the place it began the yr. This has introduced the typical worth from $2288/head to $1715/head. Traditionally, it’s nonetheless performing strongly, 4% greater year-on-year, and 11% and 27% above the 5 and 10-year averages respectively. NSW had 10,000 of the 15,000 nationwide processor cow indicator eligible inventory, and averaged 4¢/kg decrease.
All of the nationwide steer indicators closed the week barely down, by solely 1-3¢/kg, whereas feeder heifers misplaced 10¢/kg and restocker heifers really elevated by 7¢/kg. This stated, the class (together with processor cows) now sits on the lowest premium year-on-year, solely 11¢/kg greater than the identical week in 2025, with all different main nationwide indicators sitting between 40¢/kg and 70¢/kg greater.
