Previous Close Cattle Markets Summary
Cattle markets continued to strengthen across the eastern states, with widespread buyer competition, improved quality, and strong restocker and feeder demand driving higher prices across most categories.
The trends appear to be:
- Supply mixed, with some centres recording larger yardings while others were rain-affected and reduced
- Strong buyer competition across feeder, restocker, and processor sectors
- Young cattle and feeder cattle generally dearer, particularly quality lines
- Restocker demand remained a major driver of market strength
- Cow markets mostly firm to higher, with notable gains in several centres
- Quality cattle attracting strong premiums, particularly well-bred weaners and feeder stock
East Coast (QLD, NSW, VIC)
Overall stronger market, supported by active competition from feeders, restockers, and processors.
QLD (Gracemere) Saw:
- Strong demand at the first weaner and feeder sale of the year
- Premium prices for well-bred steers and heifers
- Strong buyer support across quality cattle categories
NSW results were broadly stronger:
- Forbes recorded a firmer market, with young cattle and heifers 4–7c/kg dearer while cows remained steady
- Tamworth saw significant gains across yearlings, restocker cattle, grown stock, and cows following a rain-reduced but higher-quality yarding
- Wagga posted widespread price rises, with strong restocker competition lifting lighter feeder cattle and heavy cows gaining 17–20c/kg
VIC (Mortlake) Stood out with:
- Increased yardings and strong restocker demand
- Most categories improving 10–30c/kg
- Cows recording the strongest gains across the sale
Summary: Strong competition from restockers, feeders, and processors continues to underpin cattle markets, with quality stock attracting significant premiums and most categories trending dearer across major eastern selling centres.
👉 See full sale reports and videos below
Cattle yardings & reports
Queensland
- CQLX Gracemere cattle report (MLA): Yarding: 5,909, (+784). Strong buyer support at the first Gracemere weaner and feeder sale of 2026 lifted well-bred cattle prices, with top-quality steers and heifers attracting premium rates. Full report available here.
New South Wales
- Forbes cattle report (MLA): Yarding: 759, (-363). Reduced numbers and fair-quality cattle saw a stronger market, with young cattle and heifers selling 4–7c/kg higher while cows remained steady. Full report available here.
- TRLX Tamworth cattle report (MLA): Yarding: 1,139, (-1,187). A rain-reduced but higher-quality yarding drove a much stronger market, with yearlings, restocker cattle, grown stock and cows all recording significant price gains. Full report available
- Wagga cattle report (MLA): Yarding: 4,400, (+800). Increased numbers and strong buyer competition pushed most cattle categories higher, with restockers driving significant gains for lighter feeder cattle and heavy cows up 17–20c/kg. Full report available
- Armidale cattle report (DC) (28/5). View the latest report here
Victoria
- WVLX Mortlake cattle report (MLA): Yarding: 1,967, (+117). Increased yardings and strong restocker demand drove a broadly stronger market, with most cattle categories gaining 10–30c/kg and cows recording the largest rises. Full report available here.
South AustraliaÂ
- No Reports
Western Australia
- No Reports
Tasmania
- No Reports