Sheep and lamb prices improved sharply at Warwick livestock markets in the week ending October 9, with 2,139 head averaging $191.47, up $29 per head. Buyers competed for heavier processing stock, and ewes recorded a strong gain of $45. Cattle numbers held close to recent levels, with 1,042 head yarded at an average of $1,410.72 per head. Better-finished cattle attracted firm competition, while poorer-conditioned stock was harder to sell. Pig and poultry numbers were also reported.
Cattle numbers at the NRLX in Casino on Wednesday, October 21, fell to 850 head, down 196 from the previous week. Most classes of cattle were fewer. Restocker weaner steers sold from 500c to 736c per kilogram, with medium weights averaging 598c/kg. Processors were keen to buy cows, pushing prices about 20c/kg higher, with heavy 4 score cows ranging from 392c to 425c/kg.
Prices were significantly higher than a fortnight ago at Thursday's Leongatha Store Sale, with steers and heifers both selling strongly. Deb Chisholm sold a pen of 14 Angus steers averaging 345 kilograms for $2,090 a head, or $6.05 a kilogram. Jimmy Kyle of SEJ said prices were fair to buyers and sellers, linking the rise to cattle quality and buyer confidence after recent rain. Heifers consistently sold for more than $5 a kilogram, with some pens close to $6.
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Cattle sales at the Northern Rivers Livestock Exchange in Casino topped $1 million on Wednesday, 7 October 2026. Steers achieved the highest price per kilogram, peaking at 658.2 cents. Official figures show 801 cattle sold by weight across 398 lots, generating $1,023,467.82. Cows produced the largest category turnover at $364,929.60, while steers generated $292,278.86. Three heifers were also sold on a per-head basis.
Angus cattle are rising in popularity across Australia's beef industry, overtaking the Hereford breed that long dominated the national herd. A Meat & Livestock Australia survey found Angus led herd growth between 2023 and 2025, adding 1.76 million head. Angus Australia says marketing, export demand and a premium on the Verified Angus Beef label have helped the breed's success. Industry figures expect a mixed future, with crossbreeds such as Droughtmasters also growing in number.
Entries are now open for the 2027 Paddock to Palate Competition, presented by JBS Australia, as the event marks its 30th anniversary. The competition assesses cattle from feedlot efficiency to carcase quality and consumer taste testing. Its first judging phase takes place at JBS Beef City feedlot west of Toowoomba. Organisers say the results give producers performance data to guide breeding, feeding and marketing decisions. Entries for Classes 37, 38 and 40 close on Friday 4 December 2026.
Prices rose across all cattle types at Sullivan Livestock's regular fortnightly Gympie Cattle Sale, where 1112 head were yarded. Cattle came from Maryborough, Brooweena, Woolooga, Kilkivan and other nearby areas. Top steers included Charbray steers at $5.48 a kilogram and Brangus cross weaner steers at $6.02. Quality Droughtmaster heifers topped at $5.20 a kilogram. The next sale is on Monday 2 November.
Beef producers across the Riverina will have the chance to meet leading industry experts at Cattle Connect, a two-day national cattle event in Wagga. Hosted by Cattle Australia with Charles Sturt University, it runs on Thursday, October 22 and Friday, October 23. The program includes field demonstrations, farm tours, expert talks and discussions on the future of cattle production. Harden producer and Cattle Australia director Elke Cleverdon encouraged local families to attend, saying it saves them long trips to national events. Registrations are open.
The Drensmaine Santa Gertrudis stud at Tambo sold all 82 bulls offered at its sale on October 18, despite 120mm of rain. The top bull sold for $42,500 to the Swan Hill Santa Gertrudis stud, and the average price was $12,153. Buyers came from across Queensland and New South Wales, and some bid online. Five horses and four working dogs were also offered, with the top horse selling for $20,000 and the top dog for $15,000.
The inaugural Cattlemen's Choice sale at the Dalby saleyard on October 16 offered 77 bulls across three breeds from three New South Wales studs. The top-price bull, a Simmental named Daraabah Wolfy W550, sold for $11,000 to Greg and Bridgette Ehrlich from Wandoan. Simmental bulls sold best, with 12 of 17 selling at an average of $7666.67. Six of 25 Charolais bulls and 10 of 35 black composite bulls also sold. The Ehrlichs said they plan to breed their own bulls on their 3000-hectare property, and the vendors said they will return to Dalby next year.
The top-priced bull at the 2026 Roma Droughtmaster Bull Sale, Karragarra Wyesby, sold for $40,000 to the Childs family of Glenlands J Droughtmasters. The 20-month-old bull was offered by Wayne York of Karragarra Droughtmasters. In the ring, 61 of 75 bulls sold, an 82 per cent clearance with a $9672 average. Four more lots sold after the sale, lifting the clearance to 87 per cent. The buyers said the bull impressed them in person and expect a strong result from the females they have chosen to mate with him.
The Wirruna Poll Herefords female dispersal sale near Holbrook, held over two days, ended with Ian and Diney Locke marking the close of their herd. Over two days, 640 lots sold, with buyers from as far away as the United Kingdom. The top-priced cow with calf, Wirruna Last Day R006, sold for $30,000 to Callaway Poll Hereford stud in Queensland and Talbalba Herefords. Overall, 383 cows with calves sold for an average of $6850. The sale was conducted by Nutrien Ag Solutions, with AuctionsPlus providing the online interface.
Residents in Llowalong, north of Maffra and Stratford, are opposing a proposal for a 2,206-head undercover cattle feedlot. Neighbour Nick Lee told Wellington Shire Council that the site would bring heavy traffic, noise, odour and environmental concerns. A petition with almost 700 signatures was presented, and the council voted to reject the proposal, referring it to a future meeting. The council chief executive said a decision would likely not be made until next year. The proponent, farmer Angus Zilm, says the feedlot would bring advanced feeding technology and contract feeding for local producers.
Cattle prices rose at NRLX sales, with a yarding of 1046 head. A larger group of buyers, mainly from the south, pushed up prices by 60c to 80c per kilogram for medium and light restocker weaner steers. Heavy steers gained 18c per kilogram. Restocker weaner heifers also rose, with light heifers up 70c. Cow prices increased by 2c to 8c, and heavy bulls reached a top price of 396c per kilogram. Market report by Doug Robson for Meat & Livestock.
Veterinarians are urging graziers in north Queensland to vaccinate their cattle as an unseasonal outbreak of bovine ephemeral fever, also known as three-day sickness, spreads. The virus has caused unusual deaths in cattle over 24 to 48 hours, with significant losses reported in Hughenden and Charters Towers. The outbreak is believed to have been spread by mosquitoes, and while there is no risk to humans, the severity of symptoms has raised concerns about a potential change in the virus.
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The 50th Rockhampton Brangus Sale saw 202 of 218 bulls sell, with an average of $15,347 and a 93 per cent clearance rate. The top price of $110,000 was paid by Paul and Catherine Mackenzie of Arizona, Dingo, for Gunnadoo Park Quickstep, a bull bred by Jeff Parker of Gunnadoo Park, Manilla, NSW. The Mackenzies plan to use the bull to breed future sires for their commercial operation. Buyers came from across Queensland and into NSW, with Westmoor Pastoral Co of Injune taking the largest order of 10 bulls.
Pastoralists are using technology to improve the survival of newborn calves. At Winning Station, near Coral Bay in Western Australia, Kim Forrester uses a phone and tablet to track water tanks and cattle data. Researchers at Central Queensland University are fitting cows with ear tags and GPS collars similar to Fitbit activity monitors. At Manbulloo Station near Katherine, Christie Pearson is studying maternal behaviour in 140 cows. Senior researcher Anita Chang is monitoring 100 cows at Belmont Station in Rockhampton. Mr Forrester said surviving calves is the biggest profit driver.
Suburbs are reaching farmland across the Illawarra, bringing new housing close to working farms. The writer says farmers and residents now share the same space, with a Facebook complaint about late-night hay baling illustrating the tension. At Calderwood, more than 500 cattle must cross Calderwood Road, which is being upgraded as traffic grows. The writer argues that housing is needed, but people must decide what to lose and what to design around. Neither side is simply wrong, the writer says, and both must keep functioning.
A calf born in southern Queensland with two extra legs growing from its head has made a full recovery after surgery. The heifer, nicknamed Spider, was operated on when she was just over a week old. Imke Tammen, a University of Sydney researcher, says parasitic twinning could explain the condition, where an embryo starts to split into two but does not separate fully. Pittsworth veterinarian Megan Smith, who has practised for 20 years, performed the surgery at minimal cost after the owners considered putting the calf down.
