Saleyard slump
The Snapshot
- NSW was the only state to see an increase in cattle throughput over the 2022/23 financial year, with yardings up 7.3%.
- Queensland cattle throughput eased by 8.1% and Victoria saw a 14.2% drop.
- SA saw the biggest declines, with yarding levels off by 27.0%. Tasmania and WA also saw reasonable drops of 19.6% and 19.1%, apiece.
The Detail
Meat & Livestock Australia’s cattle saleyard survey for financial year 2022/23 was released recently and it shows that NSW was the only state to see an increase to cattle throughput. Saleyards in NSW saw a total throughput increase of 7.3% over the financial year, lifting from 1,163,468 head in 2021/22 to 1,248,725 head in 2022/23.
Queensland cattle throughput eased by 8.1% (from 1,236,360 head to 1,135,804 head) and Victoria saw a 14.2% drop (from 921,811 head to 790,530 head). The increase in NSW cattle yardings saw their market share of national throughput lift from 30.4% in 2021/22 to 35% in 2022/23 taking the top spot away from Queensland. Queensland market share slipped from 32.2% to 31.8% over the last financial year. Victoria also saw their market share of the national tally decline from 24.1% to 22.2%.
SA saw the biggest declines, with yarding levels off by 27.0%. Tasmania and WA also saw reasonable drops of 19.6% and 19.1%, apiece.
A summary of the top sale yards in NSW saw Dubbo wrestle the top spot from Tamworth during the 2022/23 financial year. Dubbo saw a 25.2% increase in cattle yardings from 122,289 head to 153,164 head, representing 12.3% of total NSW cattle throughput. Tamworth managed a 6.9% increase in throughput over the year, but it wasn’t enough to hold onto pole position. Other noticeable gains in the top 10 NSW saleyards was Gunnedah (up 21.5%). Meanwhile Casino, Inverell & Yass struggled through the season with declines of 5.3%, 3.6% and 2.0%, respectively.
In Queensland, Roma saleyard still holds the mantle of the top national cattle saleyard and top Queensland saleyard with an 11% increase on throughput in 2022/23, from 220,567 head to 244,778. Roma accounts for 21.6% of Queensland’s cattle throughput and 6.8% of the national cattle throughput. Elsewhere in Queensland the Dalby saleyard replaced Charters Towers in second place. Dalby saw a 17.1% increase in cattle yardings versus Charters Towers 32.0% drop in throughput. Gracemere, Emerald & Blackall also saw significant drops over the season of 17.3%, 11.9% and 28.7%, respectively.
The market share for the top Victorian saleyards hasn’t changed much over the last financial year with Leongatha remaining in top spot on 16.1% of the states cattle throughput volumes. Leongatha held onto the top spot despite a 20.6% fall in cattle yardings over the year, from 160,202 head to 127,241 head. All Victorian saleyards saw declines to cattle yardings, except Hamilton which managed a 14.4% gain. Notable, falls in the top ten saleyards were Pakenham, Bairnsdale & Ballarat which falls of 15.5%, 13.3% and 20.6%, respectively.
