Beef slaughter at record levels

AUSTRALIA produced 730,077 tonnes of beef in the March quarter which is the highest first quarter on record with the slaughter figure hitting 2.3 million head which is up 6% year-on-year.

These figures follow through from records set in 2025. Interesting to read the numbers state by state with the kill figure in Queensland being 951,000 head followed by Victoria at 552,900, NSW  539,000, Western Australia 112,200, South Australia 85,800 and Tasmania 61,000 head. MLA  commentary is saying that although production levels align with industry projections, uncertainty is building for the second half of the year with less favorable weather forecasts and the fact that we will fill our quotas into both China and Korea long before the end of the year.

Another record. The National Feedlot  survey has confirmed a new record turn-off from Australian feedlots of over 1 million head.

In total, feedlots contributed 1,046,717 head to the supply chain which is an increase of 11% from the December 2025 quarter.

This part of the industry has grown so much over the last five years and looks like it will keep going with big dollars being spent on infra structure over the past twelve months.

Cattle prices started this week with big increases in all major interstate saleyards with some agents saying it is a very long time since they have seen such big increases in a week.

On Monday evening the Eastern States Young Cattle Indicator sat at 894c/kg carcass weight which is a jump of 15c over last week and an increase 132c over the past month.

At big yards like Wagga and Dubbo there were increases of 100c/kg particularly on light weights.

Yardings across Eastern Australia have slipped 8% over the past week and there have been some very good rains in many parts which is encouraging producers to hang on and wait to see if some follow ups arrive.

Last week at Mortlake agents yarded 5,400 store cattle and quotes were up to 50c/kg dearer as much of Victoria has good follow-up rains.

On Monday at Wagga feeder steers consistently made over 500c and bullocks made 480c to 505c.

Cow prices jumped in most yards and at Tamworth many cows jumped 30c with a lot of heavy cows making over 400c/kg liveweight. Encouraging signs ahead for cattle producers.