Livestock

Record cow yarding in March

By Contributed

Apr 28, 2026

Meat and Livestock Australia recorded the highest ever monthly cow yarding in March. Photo by Megan Fisher

The nation has recorded its highest ever monthly cow yarding, according to Meat and Livestock Australia, with dry conditions in NSW pushing producers to increase turnoff.

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Data from MLA shows a record 84,069 cows were yarded nationally in March, with NSW contributing 64 per cent, almost two‑thirds of the total.

Victoria was the second-largest contributor, yarding 13,709 cows and making up 16 per cent of the national total.

The lift reflects tightening feed availability in NSW after below‑average rainfall.

With the Bureau of Meteorology forecasting an El Niño pattern later this year, further seasonal pressure remains a concern.

MLA market analyst Alex Fry said the scale of the current NSW sell‑off differed from previous national liquidation events.

“Unlike the widespread drought-driven turnoff seen in 2018, this increase is largely concentrated in northern NSW rather than across the entire country,” he said.

The surge in supply has weighed on prices, with the Processor Cow Indicator falling to 299 cents a kilogram liveweight, down 14 per cent over the month.

Despite seasonal pressure in parts of eastern Australia, MLA said broader cattle market fundamentals remained relatively well supported.