NLRS Christmas Shutdown and Saleyard Operations
As the year draws to a close, the National Livestock Reporting Service (NLRS) is set to pause its operations for the Christmas period. The service will resume in the first week of the new year, following the festive break.
Saleyards across the country are entering their final week of sales for the year. Consequently, the reporting of prices will halt on 20 December and recommence as the saleyards reopen in the new year. Most saleyards are expected to resume operations within the first two weeks of 2024.
Regional Saleyard Schedules
- New South Wales: The first sheep sale of the year will be at Guyra on Wednesday, 3 January. Armidale and Yass will host the first cattle sales on Thursday, 4 January. Griffith sheep and SLEX Yass cattle sales are also scheduled for the first week, with other NSW saleyards returning in the second week.
- Queensland: Blackall will conduct the first sale on Wednesday, 3 January, with most other Queensland saleyards reopening the following week.
- Victoria: The year’s first sales will occur on Wednesday, 3 January, in Hamilton (sheep) and Leongatha (cattle), with other saleyards in Victoria starting staggeredly throughout January.
- South Australia: Mount Gambier will host both cattle and sheep sales on Wednesday, 3 January, with others following in the second week.
- Tasmania: Powranna will reopen on Tuesday, 9 January.
- Western Australia: Mt Barker returns on Thursday, 4 January, with Katanning and Muchea resuming the following week.
The full schedule of saleyard closures can be found on the relevant website.
Slaughter Reports and Yardings for 2023
The final NLRS slaughter report for the year will be published on Thursday, 21 December, covering the week of 11 December. The report will return in the new year as processors resume operations post-holiday.
2023 Yardings Report (Up to Friday, 15 December)
Cattle Yardings:
- Largest total yardings by saleyard: Roma (242,177), Dalby (195,823), Dubbo (187,617).
- Largest weekly yardings by saleyard: Roma (9,756 on 9 May; 8,650 on 25 July; 8,330 on 4 July).
- Largest weekly yardings overall: Week of 10 December (85,716), Week of 17 December (73,036), Week of 7 May (62,254).
Sheep Yardings:
- Largest total yardings by saleyard: Wagga (644,100), Dubbo (408,876), CVLX Ballarat (385,425).
- Largest weekly yardings overall: Week of 10 December (152,700), Week of 12 March (131,772), Week of 17 December (128,598).
Combined Sheep and Cattle Yardings:
- Largest total yardings by saleyard: Wagga (1,732,970), CVLX Ballarat (1,119,313), Forbes (923,280).
- Largest weekly yardings overall: Week of 17 December (341,579), Week of 10 December (294,368), Week of 29 October (243,722).
