Australia recorded weekly cattle slaughter of 158,528 head for the week ending 6 February, the highest weekly throughput since 2019, according to NLRS data. The figure marked a 27% jump week-on-week and stood 13% above the same week last year.
Unlike 2019, when drought conditions drove elevated turn-off, the current lift is not weather-driven. While parts of Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales continue to face seasonal challenges, northern Australia is not experiencing widespread drought. The increase reflects the size of the national herd, producers’ capacity to market more cattle and sustained processor demand for finished stock.
The early February rise also coincides with the industry returning to full operational capacity following Christmas plant closures and holiday-shortened weeks in January. Seasonal breeder culling contributed to the higher throughput. January volumes were only 0.1% above 2025 levels year-to-date, but the strength of early February is notable given that 2025 is shaping up as one of the largest slaughter years in more than half a century.
Total annual slaughter is projected to exceed 9 million head, with official figures due shortly. Provided cattle availability remains adequate, 2026 could rival or even surpass last year’s historically strong performance. Global protein supply constraints continue to underpin strong demand for Australian beef, supporting processor appetite for slaughter-ready cattle.
Source: Stephen Bignell, MLA Manager – Market Information.
