Meat & Livestock Australia’s (MLA) annual saleyard survey, compiled by the National Livestock Reporting Service (NLRS), shows contrasting fortunes for Australia’s principal livestock markets in the financial year ending 30 June 2026. The NLRS recorded 14.5 million sheep transactions and 5.18 million cattle transactions across reported saleyard facilities.
National totals and year-on-year change
Sheep transactions were down by 11.6% compared with 2024–25, a decline of approximately 1.9 million head. By contrast, cattle transactions strengthened by 7.4%, an increase of more than 356,000 head year-on-year.
| Market | financial year to 30 June 2026 | year-on-year change |
|---|---|---|
| Sheep transactions | 14.5 million | −11.6% (≈ −1.9 million head) |
| Cattle transactions | 5.18 million | +7.4% (+356,000 head) |
Regional patterns in cattle throughput
New South Wales and Queensland led the rise in cattle saleyard activity. NSW remained the largest state for cattle saleyard throughput with 2.17 million head passing through 27 reported facilities, while Queensland recorded 1.65 million head across 23 facilities. Roma Saleyards in Queensland posted the highest single-facility cattle throughput nationally with 362,051 head, an increase of 21.5% on the prior year.
Other notable individual cattle market movements included Dubbo Regional Livestock Market in NSW with 313,565 cattle transactions, up 31.8%, and Tamworth Regional Livestock Exchange which increased to 241,244 head, up 38.1%.
Sheep volumes decline broadly
The survey noted that sheep saleyard volumes fell across much of the country, with the overall reduction concentrated in eastern states. The NLRS highlighted the differing trends between cattle and sheep channels as an important snapshot of livestock marketing activity.
“The latest results show contrasting trends across Australia's cattle and sheep saleyards, with increased cattle transactions in several key producing states alongside reduced sheep throughput across much of the country,” said Stephanie Pitt, NLRS Manager at MLA.
Ms Pitt added that saleyards continue to play a significant role in livestock marketing and that the annual survey offers useful regional and category-level insight into changing transaction volumes.
- MLA’s NLRS recorded 14.5 million sheep and 5.18 million cattle saleyard transactions in the year to 30 June 2026.
- Sheep transactions fell by 11.6% (about 1.9 million head); cattle transactions rose by 7.4% (more than 356,000 head).
- NSW and Queensland led cattle growth; Roma Saleyards had the highest single-facility cattle throughput (362,051).
The survey figures provide a national-level reference for trade flows through auction channels. They will be of interest to UK and Irish industry participants monitoring global sheep supply dynamics and alternative market structures for live sheep and lambs.
