DIRECT consignment slaughter cattle prices have risen 20-40c/kg across most of eastern and southern Australia this week,  in response to the recent surge in saleyards price trends, driven largely by heavy competition for cattle across the three eastern states from southern processors.

Grids seen this morning from competitive processors in southern Queensland show a wide spread, with heavy cows anywhere from 600c to 640c/kg, and grass ox four-teeth at from 670c to 710c/kg.

Some of those numbers are +40c/kg on this time last week, partly due to sustained competitive tension from southern processors who are currently relying heavily on sourcing cattle out of Queensland to maintain kills.

That in turn has pushed saleyards prices, especially for slaughter cows, sharply higher over the past fortnight, forcing export processors to adjust over-the-hooks rates.

Central Queensland sheds are mostly 20c/kg behind those rates.

Early August can often be a flat spot for Queensland slaughter cattle supply, being too early for inflows of oats finished cattle in numbers, at the tail-end of winter, and some producers taking a few days off to visit the Brisbane Show. Counter to that, 2025 has not been too bad in this area, because of the fact that all cattle turnoff has been pushed back a little in the calendar due to earlier rain.

Most substantial Queensland processors remain well covered for cattle bookings until weeks three or four in August, Beef Central was told.

In southern states, we’ve seen over-the-hooks grids in eastern parts of South Australia and southern NSW this week at 720c/kg on heavy cows, and grass four-tooth ox 790c.Both are up 20c/kg.

Big inflows of cows into saleyards

Last week’s blisteringly high saleyards prices for slaughter cows has predictably driven even more cows to market this week, but saleyards prices in the main, have trended down early this week (see examples below).

There are reports this week that some Victorian processors are now dropping shifts and numbers/shift, in the face of high cattle procurement costs out of Queensland and equally expensive freight bills to get the cattle home for slaughter.

As reported last week, cows at a number of northern selling centres got as high as 440c/kg on the hoof last week, with a $150 freight bill in front of them before slaughter in Victoria.

Some assessments have suggested losses on Queensland-bought heavy cows as high as $300 a head, by the time the animals are freighted back to Victoria for processing.

Cows out of Roma sale this morning were estimated at 720c/kg dressed weight equivalent on the deck, and 735c/kg delivered southeast Queensland plants. That’s back probably 20-30c/kg, dressed weight equivalent, on last week’s Roma sale.

National adult cattle slaughter trended sharply down for the week ended Friday, declining by almost 5pc on the week before to 150,496 head. Queensland and Victoria took the brunt of the falls in numbers, being back 5400 head and 1650 head respectively. Local show holidays partly explained some of the decline in Queensland, while the decline in Victoria may be more endemic.

Some cows bought out of last Tuesday’s Roma store sale were evidently on the killfloor rail back in Victoria on Friday – such is the tightness of the current supply in the region.

Saleyards trends

Some huge yardings of cows were reported in some selling centres this week, in response to recent sharp price rises. Roma sale this morning is reported to include 3300 cows (full report appears tomorrow), Blackall sale this Thursday yarding around 2300 cows, and Casino 700 tomorrow.

Wagga sale yesterday yarded 3079 head of cattle, double the previous week, driven by the dearer prices the previous sale. The quality of cattle remained consistent, with most stock in secondary condition, complemented by a selection of very good grain-assisted yearlings and grown cattle. The availability of heavy steers and bullocks suitable for processors was limited, with the majority being grain-assisted. Heavy steers and bullocks were priced from 420-478c/kg. Heavy cows remained firm, with prices easing slightly, making from 402-443c/kg. Cows less than 520kg sold from 270-422c/kg.

Wodonga sale this morning yarded only 500 head. Prices across trade and export classes were distorted due to insufficient numbers. Heavy steers and bullocks suitable for processors sold from 456-470c/kg. In the cow sale, heavy cows were in limited numbers resulting in prices lifting 4c/kg -the bulk made from 400-446c/kg. Leaner cows sold from 270-395c/kg.