Beef kill: Weekly cattle supplies rising after mid-summer drop-off
Weekly beef kill figures are increasing again after dropping off in the mid-summer weeks throughout June and early July.
Weekly factory cattle kill numbers were trending around 30,000 head/week up to the week ending Sunday, June 14.
By the week ending Sunday, June 28, weekly supplies had fallen below 24,000 head.
Supplies have been increasing since July but the cumulative kill-to-date this year remains below the 2025 kill-to-date.
The graph below illustrates how factory cattle supplies have declined over the past two weeks:
More cattle are starting to come fit off grass this month, while the prolonged dry weather and subsequent low grass growth is resulting in farmers drafting cattle slightly earlier for slaughter to reduce grass demand.
Many farmers have also put cattle onto a finishing diet earlier than usual to help alleviate the pressure on grass supplies.
The table below details weekly beef kill numbers in the week ending Sunday, July 19, versus the same week of last year, the cumulative beef kill-to-date this year versus the same week of last year, as well as the change in numbers and percentage changes:
| Animal Type | Week ending July 19, 2026 | Same week last year | Difference | Cumulative 2026 | Cumulative 2025 | Cumulative Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Young Bulls | 1,761 | 1,559 | +202 (+13.0%) | 66,972 | 68,628 | -1,656 (-2.4%) |
| Bulls | 471 | 456 | +15 (+3.3%) | 14,169 | 14,189 | -20 (-0.1%) |
| Steers | 9,543 | 8,842 | +701 (+7.9%) | 322,594 | 344,770 | -22,176 (-6.4%) |
| Cows | 7,689 | 5,972 | +1,717 (+28.8%) | 188,242 | 215,076 | -26,834 (-12.5%) |
| Heifers | 7,376 | 6,916 | +460 (+6.7%) | 269,524 | 299,986 | -30,462 (-10.2%) |
| Total | 26,840 | 23,745 | +3,095 (+13.0%) | 861,501 | 942,649 | -81,148 (-8.6%) |
As the table above indicates, the cumulative kill-to-date this year is down 8.6% or over 81,000 head.
This cumulative drop in kill numbers is expected to recover to some degree later in the year.
Price offers for cattle have been increasing in recent weeks in line with the drop-off in kill numbers. This week has seen more talk of prices stabilising.
Several marts in the southern half of the country have reported a drop in store cattle prices this week as a result of the current dry spell and low grass growth conditions.
