Fat Cattle Report
Good afternoon everybody, this is John Lindsay with a look at this week’s livestock markets out of Dubbo for the 2nd week of March, 2026.
Tallied numbers this week included –
7700 fat cattle
25000 lambs and
14000 mutton
Into the cattle pens firstly, where there was another large number on offer, with another large yarding of cows, with the market fully firm for most categories, with prime cattle at least 10 cents dearer due to a shortage as well as feeder steers also enjoying dearer trends. Lighter restocker cattle were definitely softer, bearing in mind the younger cattle this week were quite a bit lighter than last week. I must say given where our season is, the market is still very strong.
Light vealer steers to restockers under 200kg live, 455 to 594 cents with the majority around 550 cents. With the heifer portion also under 200kg live, 348 to 410 cents for the plainer types and up to 460 cents for the fresher types, with the heavier drafts 404 to 467 cents but mainly around 430 cents.
Yearling steers under 400kg to restockers, 470 to 546 cents, with the feeder drafts 440 to 524 cents. Heavier drafts over 400kg live to feed 456 to 528 cents but mainly either side of 500 cents. Yearling heifers under 400kg live, 403 to 460 cents but mainly around the 430 cent mark for feeders. Heavier drafts over 400kg to feed 408 to 450 cents, with suitable kill drafts 430 to 464 cents.
Into export sales, heavy feeders were in short supply but saw sales between 486 and 513 cents but mainly either side of 500 cents. With suitable export heifers to kill 445 to 480 cents.
Light boner cows to restockers 270 to 370 cents, medium weights 312 to 350 cents for the plainer types or 346 to 380 cents for the fresher, forward drafts, with heavy high yielding cows 383 to 400 cents generally with this week’s top price reaching 419 cents,
Carter Linday & McHugh sold the following cattle for their clients –
Firstly, locally for George & Jess Holland of “Avondale” at Goolma, who sold well bred Angus heifers, preg tested empty to feedlotters and these top heifers returned $1915.
Mark & Trudy Altus of “Albion Hills” at Wongarbon, sold prime Charolais cross heifers with their 4 teeth for 470 cents, they weighed 555kg and these top heifers came back at $2620.
To Coonamble for James & Michele Hegarty, who sold prime Charolais cross heifers that weighed 540kg for 480 cents and these top heifers came back at $2850.
The Colwell Family of “Lexington”, sold prime Charolais cross steers to kill that weighed 465kg for 494 cents and these top steers came back at $2290.
Terry & Robin Hanigan of “Hollywood”, sold heavy Angus cows that weighed 705kg for 405 cents and these top cows came back at $2860.
While at Nyngan for John & Mary Burley of “Woodlands Station”, who sold top Angus cows that weighed 645kg for 393 cents and these top cows returned $2530.
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Fat Sheep & Lamb Report
Into the lamb pens now, where it was a stronger sale with all categories enjoying rises between $5 and $10 on what was a strong sale.
Into crossbred sales firstly, light kill types up to 18kg dressed $182 to $200 and mostly being Dorper’s
Light trade $201 to $228
Medium weights $216 to $260 with most sales around the $240 mark
With heavy trade $256 to $280
Light export up to 26kg dressed $257 to $300 with most sales around $280
With drafts up to 30kg dressed $280 to $334
With super heavies over 30kg dressed $315 to $379 with most sales around the mid $340’s
To Merino sales, light restocker types up to 16kg dressed $150 to $158
Up to 18kg dressed $185 to $200
Light trade $204 to $220
Heavy trade was well supplied $250 to $258
With export weights up to 26kg dressed seeing sales up to $278
Carter Lindsay & McHugh sold the following lambs for their clients –
Firstly locally for Adam & Billie Altus at Eumungerie, who sold very tidy Australian White lambs in a 3 score condition to the exporters and these top lambs made $292.
Chris & Bec O’Malley of “Carinya” at Narromine, sold light export weight crossbred lambs with a fresh ½ inch skin, in a well rounded 3 score condition and these top lambs made $272.
For The Horder Family at “Cartref” at Baradine, who sold very tidy trade weight Aussie White lambs, in a 3 score condition and these top lambs made $228.
John & Georgie Burton of “Thara” at Coonamble, sold export weight Aussie White lambs, beautifully presented in a 3 score condition and these top lambs made $286.
At Nyngan for The Hoare Family of “Karabran”, who sold crossbred lambs to restockers, well grown and these top lambs made $188.
While for a western client – very tidy heavy trade weight Dorper lambs in a 3 score condition and fresh and these top lambs made $247.
Into the mutton pens how, where all categories were represented, where like the lambs the market was brighter of between $5 and $10 on what still looks to be an extremely market.
Light boner ewes $85 to $93 with framier types $112 to $121
Boner ewes $120 to $150
Medium weights $144 to $185 for crossbreds with a large percentage being Dorper’s, with the Merino drafts $162 to $213 with the majority either side of $200
With export drafts up to 30kg dressed $210 to $260 for Merino’s or $212 to $253 for crossbreds
With super heavies over 30kg dressed up to $255 for Merino’s or $246 to $314 for crossbreds with the majority around the $270 mark.
Just some quick quotes for Carter Lindsay & McHugh clients – on the same truck as the lambs for Adam & Billie Altus, who sold export weight crossbred sheep in a 4 score condition and these top sheep made $314.
For a Warren client – large framed Merino ewes with an inch skin, in a 3 score condition and they made $213.
While for Andrew & Rose Gordon from Bourke, who sold large framed crossbred ewes, in a 3 score condition to the exporters and these top ewes made $230.
Well that wraps it up for another week, don’t forget our next store cattle sale is scheduled for Friday 10th April, 2025.
So until next week …………………. Bye.
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As you may be aware, a new rebate scheme has recently been announced for hand-held equipment for the NSW Sheep and Goat eID program.
This funding is specific to producers and livestock agents.
All details on the new Rebate Program are now available at -https://www.nsw.gov.au/grants-and-funding/nsw-sheep-and-goat-eid-equipment-rebate-program-for-producers-and-livestock-agents
Please note the applications open on 2 March 2026, and you must have already purchased the equipment before you can apply (this program does not quarantine funds for future purchases).
Equipment can have a purchase date from 3 October 2023.
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Reminder - LPA NVDs
When filling out your NVD please ensure you complete and answer each question - please also ensure you sign and date the NVD.
If you make a mistake please initial it.
It is a legal requirement that the NVD is filled out correctly each time you sell livestock.