Cattle Market Summary – 21 October 2026

Previous Close Cattle Markets Summary

Cattle markets were generally stronger across Queensland and New South Wales, supported by improved buyer competition and demand for quality cattle, while Victoria recorded mixed results and South Australia was mostly firm to easier.

The trends appear to be:

• Rain-reduced yardings in Queensland met stronger competition, lifting most cattle categories.

• Strong processor and restocker demand supported cows, weaners and yearling cattle across NSW.

• Victorian markets improved for cows and heavy bulls, although plainer cattle and some heavy categories remained under pressure.

• South Australian markets were mixed, with quality cattle holding firm while lighter and less desirable stock eased.

Queensland

• Dalby recorded a smaller, rain-affected yarding, with yearling steers to feed dearer and strong demand for cows.

• Gracemere also had fewer cattle, but prices generally strengthened, particularly for well-bred yearling steers, restocker heifers and grown steers.

• Charters Towers recorded a stronger market, with improved competition lifting yearling heifers, bullocks, cows and bulls.

• Mareeba had an additional report available, with no specific market trend provided.

Summary: Queensland markets strengthened broadly, with rain-reduced supply and improved buyer competition supporting most classes.

New South Wales

• Singleton attracted strong processor competition for bullocks, while yearlings and heavy cows improved and weaner steers remained in strong demand.

• Casino recorded dearer cows on strong processor demand, with weaner steers and heavy bulls also attracting strong prices.

• Moss Vale experienced a very strong market, with restocker weaner steers and heifers dearer and most prime cattle classes firm to stronger.

• Additional reports were available from Gunnedah and Scone, without specific market trends provided.

Summary: NSW cattle markets were strong, driven by processor demand for cows and bullocks and vigorous restocker competition for weaners.

Victoria

• Ballarat opened softer for heavy bulls before improving for cows and better young cattle, while plainer lots sold cheaper.

• Bairnsdale recorded a dearer market, with cows and heavy bulls lifting and improved quality supporting demand.

• Echuca was mixed, with quality feeder and trade cattle attracting strong demand, while heavy beef cows eased.

• Additional reports were available from Koonwarra and Sale, without specific market trends provided.

Summary: Victorian markets were mixed to stronger, with improved demand for cows, heavy bulls and quality young cattle, while plainer stock remained under pressure.

South Australia

• Mount Compass recorded a mostly firm market for vealers and cows, while grown heifers eased.

• Mount Gambier was at times lacklustre, with the best cattle holding firm while other categories eased, particularly vealers.

Summary: South Australian markets were mostly steady to easier, with quality cattle holding value but weaker demand for some categories.

Tasmania

• Powranna had an additional agency report available, with no specific market trend provided.

Summary: No specific market trend was provided for Tasmania.

National Summary

Cattle markets were generally stronger, led by Queensland and NSW, where reduced supply, strong processor competition and restocker demand lifted prices across most categories. Victoria recorded mixed but improving results for cows and heavy bulls, while South Australia remained mostly firm to easier, with quality continuing to influence returns.

👉 See full sale reports and videos below

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Cattle Marketplace Listings

Cattle yardings & reports

Queensland

• Dalby cattle report: Yarding: 3,280, (-144) Interim report: rain cut numbers 144 to 3,280 head, but a good buyer panel operated in a dearer market, with yearling steers to feed 10c to 12c/kg better and best cows to 420c/kg. Full report available here 
  • MLA
  • ER
  • Elders
• Mareeba cattle report (20/10) View the latest report here
• CQLX Gracemere cattle report: Yarding: 1,450, (-233) A rain-affected yarding of 1,450 cattle at Gracemere met a generally dearer market, with strong demand for well-bred yearling steers, restocker heifers and grown steers, while heavy cows sold to 401c/kg. Full report available here 
  • MLA
  • GDL
• Charters Towers cattle report: Yarding: 2,513, (-607) Reduced yardings of 2,513 cattle met a stronger market, with improved buyer competition lifting most classes, including yearling heifers up 24c/kg, bullocks up 13–20c, cows up 12–20c and bulls up 15–24c/kg. Full report available here 
  • MLA
  • QR

New South Wales

• Singleton cattle report: Yarding: 946, (+363) Yarding rose 363 to 946 head of generally good quality with strong processor competition for bullocks; yearlings sold dearer, weaner steers to 686c/kg and heavy cows 14c better at 370c to 414c/kg.  Full report available here 
  • MLA
  • BPL
• Casino cattle report: Yarding: 850, (-196). Yarding fell 196 to 850 head with mixed young cattle quality, but strong processor demand lifted cows around 20c/kg dearer; weaner steers topped at 736c/kg and heavy bulls at 429c/kg. Full report available here
• Gunnedah cattle report (20/10) Full report available here
  • Elders
  • DC
• Scone cattle report (20/10) Full report available here
  • DC
  • SAA
• Moss Vale cattle report: Yarding: 1,058, (+118) An increased yarding of 1,058 quality cattle met a very strong market, with restocker weaner steers up 40c/kg to 708c, heifers reaching 600c/kg and most prime cattle classes firm to dearer on stronger buyer competition. Full report available here

Victoria

• CVLX Ballarat cattle report: Yarding: 518, (+221) Yarding jumped to 518 head with excellent heavy cows and plainer young cattle; the market opened softer on heavy bulls, then gained momentum for cows and better young cattle, while plainer lots sold cheaper. Full report available here
• Bairnsdale cattle report: Yarding: 314, (+70) Yarding rose 70 head with improved quality in a dearer market; cows lifted 5c to 15c/kg, heavy bulls 35c to 50c/kg, and a couple of yearling trade steers made 480c/kg. Full report available here
• EVLX Koonwarra cattle report (20/10) Watch the latest report here
• GRLE Sale cattle report (20/10) Read the latest report here
• Echuca cattle report: Yarding: 1,670, (+410) An increased yarding of 1,670 cattle met a mixed, fluctuating market, with most categories holding within 5–10c/kg either side of last week, strong demand for quality feeders and trade cattle, and heavy beef cows easing 5c/kg. Full report available here
  • MLA
  • Elders

South Australia 

• Mt Compass cattle report: Yarding: 600, (+123) Yarding rose 123 to 600 head of good to very good quality; vealers and cows sold mostly firm while grown heifers eased, with yearling steers 400c to 529c and heavy beef cows to 430c/kg. Full report available here
• Mt Gambier cattle report: Yarding: 1,206, (+339) Yarding rose 339 to 1,206 head of mixed quality in an at times lacklustre market; the best cattle held firm while others eased, vealers lost 10c to 15c and bullocks reached 495c/kg. Full report available here

Western Australia

• No Reports

Tasmania

• Powranna cattle report (20/10) Watch the latest report here
  

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