Australian saleyards handled more cattle and fewer sheep transactions in the year to 30 June 2026.
Cattle transactions reached 5.18 million
Meat & Livestock Australia released its annual National Livestock Reporting Service saleyard survey on 26 October 2026. Across Australian saleyards, it counted more than 5.18 million cattle transactions in the financial year ended 30 June 2026, an increase of 7.4% from 2024–25. New South Wales recorded 2.17 million head, up 19.8%, and Queensland 1.65 million head, up 21.6%.
Sheep transactions declined to 14.5 million
The same survey counted 14.5 million sheep transactions, down 11.6% from the previous financial year. New South Wales had 8.66 million, a decline of 6.5%; Victoria had 3.61 million, down 25.3%. These figures count animals transacted through reporting saleyards. The annual percentage changes in the accompanying chart are transaction volumes, measured in head, rather than animal prices or slaughter numbers.