核心要点
补货需求持续推动肉牛市场行情走高，屠宰量虽有所增加，但多项肉牛相关指标仍大幅上涨，市场需求十分旺盛。
绵羊与羔羊市场整体走势稳健，不过成年羊肉及小羔羊品类需求开始走弱。
全国肉牛单周屠宰量创下2015年以来新高，也进一步印证2026年牛肉产量有望刷新纪录。
肉牛市场
肉牛价格本周持续走高，多数品类市场在需求增长的支撑下表现向好。
值得注意的是，即便屠宰量有所增加，育肥小母牛、一岁储备阉公牛以及一岁储备小母牛各项价格指标依旧大幅上涨。价格与上市量同步走高，充分说明推动市场上行的主要因素是需求增加，而非单纯的供应缩减。
一岁储备小母牛价格指标上周涨幅已超 40 澳分，本周再涨 37 澳分；一岁储备阉公牛价格指标上涨 35.7 澳分。其中一岁储备小母牛的行情变化尤为突出，该指标在四周前还低于去年同期，近一个月内每公斤活重暴涨 100.17 澳分，目前价格已超越 2025 年同期水平。
东部青年牛指标（EYCI）与整体市场走势保持一致。本周补栏买家成为市场核心推动力，储备牛价格上涨 64 澳分，育肥牛价格上涨 30 澳分。储备牛买家就此超越育肥牛买家，成为青年牛的最高出价方。
罗马市场依旧占据储备牛市场主导地位，全国售出的储备青年牛中有 43% 来自该市场。
本周东部青年牛指标达到每公斤胴体重 941 澳分，创下 2022 年以来新高，也是四年间的最高价位。沃加、沃东加、卡科尔、贡迪温迪及辛格尔顿等地的青年牛价格表现尤为亮眼，而就在数周前，这些地区还因干旱出现集中出栏，市场受到明显冲击。
绵羊市场
本周绵羊与羔羊市场价格普遍上涨，但部分品类已显现需求走弱迹象。
大羔羊价格大涨 37 澳分，美利奴羔羊指标上涨 25 澳分。商品羔羊与储备羔羊指标同样大幅走高，分别上涨 12.4 澳分、13.9 澳分。目前价格虽未触及近期高点，但仍远高于去年同期。
与之相反，成年羊肉指标小幅回落 1 澳分，小羔羊指标下跌 7 澳分。值得关注的是，本周这两类产品的上市量均有所减少。价格走低叠加供应收缩，说明其需求相对供给而言开始转弱。
纵观整个绵羊市场，上市量增加的品类价格普遍走强，印证热门品类需求依旧旺盛。而上市量缩减的品类，需求疲软的态势正逐步显现。
屠宰量与出栏量
本周全国肉牛屠宰量增至 16.6 万头，据澳大利亚国家牲畜报告服务机构数据，这是 2015 年以来成年牛单周屠宰量最高值。除维多利亚州外，各大州屠宰量均环比上升，昆士兰州增幅最大，增加 6000 头。
屠宰量走高，市场进一步看好澳大利亚 2026 年牛肉产量将创下新高。
上周全国肉牛上市量为 7.3 万头，该数值虽高于近两年均值，但远低于 4 月份 10.7 万至 11.3 万头的峰值。即便出栏量不及 4 月高点，肉牛价格依旧保持坚挺。
绵羊板块方面，羔羊屠宰量持续低于近两年同期水平。本周羔羊屠宰量为 399874 头，成年羊屠宰量 95736 头，创下近两年单周成年羊屠宰量第四低位。
绵羊与羔羊上市量同样低迷，其中羔羊上市量 18.8 万头，成年羊上市量 5.8 万头，均显著低于季节性常规水平及往年同期数据。沃加等南部主要交易市场以及昆士兰州市场的出栏量降幅最为明显。
内容来源：澳大利亚肉类及畜牧业协会市场资讯部 斯蒂芬·比格内尔
数据截至2026年5月29日发布之时。
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消息来源：MLA
Weekly cattle and sheep market wrap
Key points
Restocker demand continues to drive the cattle market higher, with some cattle indicators surging despite increased throughput, indicating strong demand.
Sheep and lamb markets remain well supported, although weaker demand is emerging for mutton and light lamb categories.
National cattle slaughter reached its highest weekly level since 2015, reinforcing expectations for record beef production in 2026.
Cattle market
Cattle prices continued to strengthen this week, with increased demand supporting the market across most categories.
Notably, Feeder Heifer, Restocker Yearling Steer and Restocker Yearling Heifer Indicators all recorded strong price gains despite higher throughput. When prices rise alongside increased yardings, it’s a strong indication that demand – rather than simply reduced supply – is driving the market higher.
The Restocker Yearling Heifer Indicator lifted 37¢ this week after rising more than 40¢ the previous week, while the Restocker Yearling Steer Indicator increased 35.7¢. Particularly significant is the performance of the Restocker Yearling Heifer Indicator, which sat below year-ago levels just four weeks ago but has since surged by 100.17¢/kg liveweight (lwt) over the month to move above 2025 prices.
The Eastern Young Cattle Indicator (EYCI) reflected these broader market trends. Restocker buyers were the primary drivers of the market this week, with restocker prices increasing 64¢ compared to feeder prices, which rose 30¢. As a result, restockers overtook feeders as the highest-paying buyers for young cattle.
Roma continued to dominate the restocker market, accounting for 43% of all restocker young cattle sold nationally.
The EYCI reached 941¢/kg carcase weight (cwt) this week – its highest level since 2022 and a four-year high. Some of the strongest young cattle prices were recorded at Wagga, Wodonga, Carcoar, Goondiwindi and Singleton – regions that only weeks earlier were heavily impacted by drought-driven turn-off.
Sheep market
The sheep and lamb market also recorded widespread price gains this week, although signs of softer demand are beginning to emerge in some categories.
Heavy lamb prices surged 37¢, while the Merino Lamb Indicator rose 25¢. Trade Lamb and Restocker Lamb Indicators also lifted strongly, up 12.4¢ and 13.9¢ respectively. While prices remain below recent peaks, they continue to track well above year-ago levels.
In contrast, the Mutton Indicator eased by 1¢ and the Light Lamb Indicator fell 7¢. Importantly, both categories also experienced reduced throughput during the week. Lower prices combined with lower supply suggest demand for these categories is beginning to soften relative to supply conditions.
Across the broader sheep market, indicators with increased throughput generally recorded stronger prices, reinforcing that demand remains robust for well-supported categories. Conversely, weaker demand sensitivity is beginning to emerge in areas where throughput has contracted.
Slaughter and throughput
National cattle slaughter increased to 166,000 head this week – the highest weekly adult cattle slaughter recorded since 2015 according to NLRS data. All major states except Victoria recorded higher week-on-week processing volumes, with Queensland posting the largest increase, up 6,000 head.
The elevated slaughter levels continue to reinforce expectations for record Australian beef production in 2026.
National cattle yardings sat at 73,000 head last week. While this remains above the average of the past two years, it’s well below the significant peaks recorded in April when yardings exceeded 107,000–113,000 head. Despite lower throughput compared to April highs, prices continue to remain firm.
In the sheep sector, lamb slaughter continued to trend below 2025 and 2026 levels. Lamb slaughter reached 399,874 head for the week, while adult sheep slaughter sat at 95,736 head – the fourth-lowest weekly adult sheep slaughter recorded over the past two years.
Sheep and lamb yardings also remained subdued. Lamb yardings totalled 188,000 head, while sheep yardings came in at 58,000 head, both well below typical seasonal levels and prior-year volumes. The largest reductions in throughput were recorded through key southern selling centres including Wagga and Queensland markets.
Attribute content to: Stephen Bignell, MLA Market Information
Information is correct at time of publication on 29 May 2026.
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Source：MLA
