Cattle Market Summary – 6 May 2026

by | May 5, 2026 | Feedlots, Processing, Sheep

Previous Close Cattle Markets Summary

Cattle markets showed firm to stronger trends nationally, with reduced yardings and widespread buyer competition lifting prices across most categories, particularly for feeders, restockers, and cows.

The trends appear to be:

  • Supply reduced across most regions, often impacted by rainfall
  • Strong buyer competition lifting prices across key categories
  • Restocker and feeder demand driving young cattle gains
  • Cows generally firm to dearer, supported by processor demand
  • Lighter and secondary stock more variable, depending on quality
  • Market remains quality-driven with broad-based competition

 

East Coast (QLD, NSW, VIC)

  • Firm to stronger market overall, with reduced supply and strong demand underpinning widespread price gains

  • QLD results were strong:

    • Roma (4,764 head) saw reduced numbers with a solid market, as strong buyer activity lifted prices for better-quality lines
    • Warwick (1,839 head) recorded stronger competition, lifting prime cattle and yearlings, while plain cows eased
    • Moreton (471 head) saw a smaller yarding with stronger prices overall, including dearer export cattle and solid demand for weaners and feeders

  • NSW results were strong:

    • Inverell (2,428 head) saw widespread price increases across most categories under strong competition
    • Carcoar (3,688 head) recorded a dearer market, driven by improved quality and stronger buyer demand, especially for cows and feeder steers
    • Gunnedah (5,200 head) saw rain-driven demand lift most categories, particularly yearlings, restockers, and cows
    • Scone (2,677 head) reported stronger demand lifting most categories, with only lighter calves easing
  • VIC results were firm to dearer:
    • Wodonga (630 head) saw reduced supply and strong demand lift most prices, though feeder heifers eased
    • Shepparton (1,100 head) recorded overall price gains, led by strong cow demand and mixed young cattle trends
    • Koonwarra (1,648 head) saw a generally dearer market, with strong gains in trade cattle and dairy cows

Summary: Eastern states markets strengthened on tighter supply and improved quality, with strong competition for feeders and restockers underpinning price gains.

 

South Australia

  • Naracoorte (487 head) saw:

    • Mixed-quality yarding
    • Strong feeder demand
    • Improved prices across most categories

Summary: Firm market supported by feeder demand despite mixed quality

Tasmania

  • Powranna (221 head) saw:

    • Increased yarding dominated by cows
    • Firm prices for quality trade cattle
    • Steady cow values across most grades

Summary: Stable to firm market, with consistent demand supporting prices

 

👉 See full sale reports and videos below

 

Cattle Marketplace Listings

Cattle marketplace listings

Cattle yardings & reports

Queensland
  • Dalby cattle report (MLA): Yarding: 6,735, (-170) Slightly reduced yarding saw widespread price gains, led by strong rises in heifers and cows, despite mixed buyer activity.  Full report available here.
  • CQLX Gracemere cattle report (MLA): Yarding: 2,241, (-615) Reduced yarding with mixed quality saw improved prices across most categories, driven by strong demand for well-bred cattle and notable gains in heavy cows. Full report available here.
  • Mareeba cattle report (Qld Rural) (5/5): Yarding: 144. Mareeba Combined Agents yarded 144 head this week. Isolated pens of well finished Cows and Bulls were on offer and attracted the top end of the market. Full report available here.
  • Charters Towers cattle report (MLA): Yarding: 1,280, (-908). Reduced yarding and mixed quality saw selective buying but overall price improvements across most categories, particularly yearling heifers, grown heifers and cows. Full report available here.
  • Emerald cattle report (H&W) (5/5) View the latest report here.
New South Wales
  • Moss Vale cattle report (MLA): Yarding: 1,801, (-546) Reduced yarding with strong quality and buyer competition drove a much dearer market, highlighted by sharp gains in yearlings and cows lifting up to 30c/kg. Full report available here.
  • Silverdale cattle report (H&C): Yarding: 538. 538 cattle yarded; most categories held steady, with price gains for ox, young cattle, and light feeder steers, while heavy steers and feeder heifers remained unchanged. Full report available here.
  • Singleton cattle report (MLA): Yarding: 1,551, (+144).Increased yarding with strong quality weaners drove solid competition and price gains across most categories, particularly heavy cows, despite weaker restocker demand for lighter cows. Full report available here.
  • Casino cattle report (MLA): Yarding: 1,027, (+413). Increased yarding with fewer cows saw strong competition and dearer trends across most categories, highlighted by significant gains in weaners and a sharp lift in heavy cow prices. Full report available here.
  • Scone cattle report. Full report available here.
  • Gunnedah cattle report (DC) (5/5). View the latest report here
Victoria
  • Bairnsdale cattle report (MLA): Yarding: 384, (+185) Increased yarding with improved quality saw stronger competition for suitable young cattle and overall price gains, with grown cattle up 20–30c/kg and cows 10–20c/kg dearer despite selective buying. Full report available here.
  • CVLX Ballarat cattle report (MLA): Yarding: 275, (-79). Small, mostly plain-quality yarding saw firm to dearer trends overall, with strong gains in cows, bulls and manufacturing steers, while young cattle eased due to quality. Full report available here.
  • Echuca cattle report (MLA): Yarding: 1,046, (+196) Increased yarding of store types saw a patchy, selective market with modest gains in trade cattle and cows, while overall demand remained uneven. Full report available here.
  • GVLX Shepparton cattle report here.
  • NVLX Wodonga cattle report (RLX) (5/5). Watch the latest report here.
  • EVLX Koonwarra cattle report (RLX) (5/5). Watch the latest report here.
South Australia 
  • Mt Gambier cattle report (MLA): Yarding: 245, (+53). Slightly larger yarding with improved quality saw mixed trends, highlighted by strong gains in grown heifers and cows despite softer results for grown steers. Full report available here.
  • Mt Compass cattle report (MLA): Yarding: 584, (+51). Similar yarding with mixed quality saw easier yearling trends but strong competition lifted heavy cow prices sharply, with top cows rising up to 60c/kg. Full report available here.
  • Naracoorte cattle report (Elders) (5/5). View the latest report here.
Western Australia
Tasmania
  • No Reports